Logged under Research
New Entry: Metrokab
Research
10.13.2019
Research Entry 036 / Metrokab
Metrokab is a taxi service found on the future streets of Los Angeles. When you need to escape the rain and the crowds to reach a destination, you don't have to go far to find one of their ubiquitous yellow passenger vans.
Source: Blade Runner
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Updated Entry: Esper
Research
09.13.2019
Research Entry 034 / Esper
The entry has been updated to accommodate additional photos and info from Tom Southwell, sharing a look at the original Esper logo presentation, and the source of his inspiration for the lettering.
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New Entry: Tyrell Corp
Research
09.09.2019
Research Entry 035 / Tyrell Corp
The Tyrell Corporation is a high-tech firm primarily involved in the design and production of genetically engineered biological androids known as Replicants, which are sold as slave laborers and soldiers in the Off-world colonies. The company is based in Los Angeles, and named after its founder and CEO, Dr. Eldon Tyrell.
Source: Blade Runner
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Updated Entry: Esper
Research
08.28.2019
Research Entry 034 / Esper
Tom Southwell clued me in to a few things, regarding the Esper's ties to ESP and the mind, and an additional fun fact about how the "esp" part of the logo has found a new life outside of Blade Runner.
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Updated Entry: Voight-Kampff
Research
08.28.2019
Research Entry 032 / Voight-Kampff
Tom Southwell provided a note on his design process for the Voight-Kampff logotype, which I've added to that Analysis section.
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Updated Entry: Spinner
Research
08.28.2019
Research Entry 031 / Spinner
After contacting Tom Southwell, he was kind enough to answer my questions, and shared firsthand info and photos regarding his design process and inspiration for the Spinner identity. With all that, I did an extensive rewrite of the entry.
In addition to Southwell's contributions, I've added a bio section for readers to learn more about him and his work, and a section for the Spinner identity's use in official Blade Runner merchandise.
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New Entry: Esper
Research
08.09.2019
Research Entry 034 / Esper
The Esper is a high-density computer with a very powerful three-dimensional resolution capacity and a cryogenic cooling system. The police cars and Deckard's apartment contain small models which can be channeled into the mainframe at police headquarters. Among many functions, the Esper can analyze and enhance photos, enabling investigators to search a room without being there.
Source: Blade Runner
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New Entry: Off-world
Research
08.04.2019
Research Entry 033 / Off-world
The Off-world colonies are corporate-owned space settlements on other planets, for which millions of people have abandoned their overpopulated and polluted homeworld, Earth.
As the airborne billboard ads say, “A new life awaits you in the Off-world colonies. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure.”
Run by the Shimago-Domínguez Corporation, the colonies are largely built, maintained and secured by genetically engineered Replicant slave laborers and soldiers. Meanwhile, the Off-world is marketed to Earth's remaining human inhabitants as a safe and prosperous alternative to life on a dying planet, where upon arrival, the corporation will gift the new colonist a Replicant slave of their own, to use as they see fit.
Source: Blade Runner
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New Entry: Voight-Kampff
Research
07.28.2019
Research Entry 032 / Voight-Kampff
The Voight-Kampff test, also referred to as the V-K, was an interrogation procedure used by special police officers known as Blade Runners, to determine if a suspect was human or Replicant. The test involved the use of a V-K machine, which measured involuntary empathic responses in the test subject — specific changes in respiration, blush response, heart rate and eye movement — as the Blade Runner posed prescribed scenarios and questions.
Source: Blade Runner
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Updated Entry: Space
Research
07.10.2019
Research Entry 018 / Space
Thanks to a reader's email this week, I have new info and source material, with which I've revised the LEGO Space entry.
In my original entry, I had inaccurately attributed the design credit for the Space logo to LEGO designer Jens Nygaard Knudsen. In fact, it was another designer on his team that created the logo.
In an article that appeared in Brick Journal No.6, “The Truth About Space!,” Jens Nygaard Knudsen is quoted as saying, “The Space logo was made by Hjalmar Nielsen, his first version had a lot of stars around it too, and was beautiful, but this was considered too flashy so the stars were removed!”
That bit of info required an update to the credits, and the fact that there were originally stars around the logo merited a note in the Analysis: Design and Inspiration section as well. And since the Brick Journal article may not be easily discoverable online, I've added it as a PDF in the Downloads section of the entry's footer. It's really worth a full read to learn even more details about the Space theme's origins, and to see photos of some of the designs we almost got, that went back in the drawers at LEGO.
A big thanks to Francesco Spreafico for the help here!
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New Entry: Spinner
Research
07.10.2019
Research Entry 031 / Spinner
The Spinner is a two-seat wheeled vehicle that is not only capable of driving on streets, but also flying and hovering via vertical take-off and landing. Spinners are used extensively by the LAPD, taking over the separate present-day roles of police cars and helicopters.
Source: Blade Runner
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Updated Entry: Botco
Research
06.27.2019
Research Entry 006 / Botco
In one of my earlier research entries, from Total Recall (1990), the origins of the Botco logo had eluded me at the time of writing. With so little screen time, it wasn't one I spent much time on.
I learned that there was more to the story though, after reading the Typeset in the Future book recently. As it turns out, the logo and slogan had a previous life somewhere else.
Read the updated entry to learn more.