Trek arrowhead/delta/widget design process?

[B.J.]

Most of us have seen Jefferies' concept sketches and design process for the Enterprise herself, but I can't remember ever seeing anything for Trek's other iconic, um, icon, the delta/arrowhead/widget/whateveryouwanttocallit. Does anyone have any info on how this particular shape was chosen, particularly any concept sketches? I'd also be interesting in seeing anything related to the command/science/engineering symbols.

I'm figuring it's probably closely related to the arrowhead-like widgets used by many flight and space agencies, but it would be nice to see if it went through any sort of approval process or design progression.

 

[B.J.]

Okay, I'm a bit surprised here - *nobody* knows anything about this? Or was it just one of those things that never got documented in the first place?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I've never seen it documented. My guess is that there was no process - that it was something Theiss added to the first costumes and GR simply approved it on sight. As you noted, it was a variation on a very popular logo element used by all kinds of aerospace companies and agencies back in the day.

Maybe there's a post-pilot production memo somewhere reading "make that thing bigger on the outfits" or something.

 

[137th Gebirg]

IIRC, there was a Trek novel many many years ago that implied that the arrowhead symbol represented warp field flow following M/AM intermix, or some-such. Possibly also a reference to the "Cochraine" unit of measurement in warp field physics. This question pops up on occasion here, and I'm sure someone will know the exact answer.

 

[kkozoriz1]

It's from "Federation". Chcorane uses it to explain warp drive.

 

[B.J.]

Yeah, I remember that. One of many reasons I really dislike that novel.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Part of the same discussion could be why they went with other shapes for other ships' crews.

 

[Albertese]

Yeah, I remember that. One of many reasons I really dislike that novel.

Interesting. That was one of the reasons I really liked that novel! Oh well. To each his own.

--Alex

 

[Captain]

There are pictures floating around someware of the sketches William theiss did for the emblem. I dont think I saw them in a book, pretty sure it was on line somewhere?
Anyways, the sketches showed some kinda goofy and in same cases elaborate designs drawn on a napkin. Written on the napkin in marker were the words lightning bolt and arrowhead....and some sketches of arrowhead and lightning bolt shapes. Obviously, somebody somewhere (Rodenberry? Justman?) told him to combine the two and we got the classic emblem we now have.

If I can find the pics again, I'll post them.

 

[Christopher]

I always used to figure they started with a standard 5-pointed star, lopped the side points off, and tweaked the shape. But yeah, it's pretty clearly inspired by shapes like the red chevron in the NASA logo of the time (which is also the current logo, though they used a different one from 1975-92).