Dubai - turning dreams into reality, says leading hollywood futurist

Mead, who is on his first visit to the region, is being promoted by Vahid Associates, Brand Futurists - one of the Middle East's leading strategic communications consultancies - to introduce Mead's 'futuristic world' and concepts to the region.

"Dubai is reinventing the Middle East as a global crossroad; a unique location that has existed for thousands of years. The new vision fulfils a promise that the world has been waiting for: an elaborate plan to show what can be accomplished when imagination combines with enthusiastic belief," said Mead.

Mead, a visionary who is widely regarded as 'the father of contemporary visualization techniques', has lauded the work done by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, in turning Dubai into a futuristic wonderland where reality and the future combine.

"The work done here is breathtaking as concepts of imagination are realised and executed in a city that harnesses the future. The real amazement, of course, is the explicit ambitions and foresight of the ruling group that is propelling this city-state into its deliberately created future."

Vahid Associates' head Vahid Mehrinfar, a protégé of Mead, who has practised futurity and vision-building for indigenous brands in the region, planned to introduce Mead to the Middle East to help facilitate the need to conceptualise future developments.

"Syd's talents and abilities can ensure that a new vision is brought to the region in many business areas, especially the real estate and industrial sectors so that projects are benchmarked against the best in the world," said Mehrinfar - whose recent agreement with Syd Mead Inc will allow Mead's works to be marketed by Vahid Associates throughout the Middle East. "Conceptualisation is essential given the developments in various fronts taking place throughout the region."

An inspiration to many, Syd Mead's track record spans working as a car designer for Ford Motor Company to being a conceptualist/consultant on major Hollywood productions. Film classics such as Bladerunner by Ridley Scott, 2010 by Peter Hyams, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture are among his many achievements in the Hollywood scene.

Already familiar with the Middle East, Syd Mead's work here includes designing the interior of private jets and yachts for regional tycoons and Heads of State. His most recent work was an inspirational painting to promote Dubai Sports City's master plan across all marketing efforts.

"I am here because of the unique excitement of seeing the future come true in Dubai," said Mead. "The Gulf is a fantastic example of how reality is catching up with the future as the size, scope and vision of some of the region's projects clearly show. I am glad to become a part of the region's phenomenal progress and contribute to the goals on the horizon.

"We are going to the future whether we like it or not; it is a place which will only be 'better' if we all work at it. I prefer to depict a future that is egalitarian and as 'workable' as we can collectively manage."

Vahid Associates also plans to translate into Arabic and Farsi, Syd Mead's best-selling books including Sentury and Oblagon: Concepts of Syd Mead, described as "a must-have for artists, designers, art enthusiasts, professionals of all disciplines, as well as industrial design students and illustrators."