Wasn't my desk; I wasn't on the production. The way it went down was more like when there were no NX designs that jumped out as being perfect, VFX producer Peter Lauritson suggested the Akira as a design that "hadn't been seen much," and that became the stylistic basis for the NX. - Rick
Oh wow dude, I didn't know you were here. This is awesome
And if it wasn't you, then it was Doug Drexler. I knew it was one of you, I just forgot which :P
The "Rick Berman threw the picture on my desk and said "make it look just like that"" story was Doug's
Ah, that makes more sense.
The ironic thing is, I hate the proportions of the Akira but I like the NX-01. Yes, they're along similar lines, but they're as different as a hippo and a race horse.
To each their own. The Akira was one of my most favorite designs ever when I first saw it on the big screen in First Contact. So I was a little off-put to see the NX be so blatant, complete with how the stanchions connect to the saucer. I always imagined the first NX being something closer to the Daedalus, like the sphere was a Human design, but the saucer was something Starfleet adopted as a merging of design philosophies of all founding members.
Some day, when I figure Blender out, I'll post the design for the Venture (NCC-101) as I felt the first starship should have a 100 registry, while those below would have been limited to Earth Patrol vessel types, not really built for more than Warp 2
Changing the orientation of the nacelles, pylons, and whatever that pod is in the middle really changes the whole ship's personality. It's silly to ascribe human emotions to a spaceship, but the Akira is sort of aggressive and unfriendly, while the NX is positive and uplifitng.
I think that is the idea, as the Akira was meant to be one of the new escort classes to follow the Defiant, particularly as the Dominion threat was looming. Starfleet needed more battle-focused ship types, and not only does the Akira look aggressive, but have you taken a close look at its torpedo pod? The thing was built for Death Blossom, I swear.