Star Trek: The Next Generation LCARS Control Panels and Displays

Presented below are some views of the many control panels and graphics displays seen aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise - D during the 7 season run of Star Trek: TNG. These backlit panels, or translights, required illumination from fluorescent lights mounted inside the console directly beneath the plexiglass panel in order to make the graphic designs visible, as the surface would otherwise appear completely black. Borrowing from the TOS references to the starship's main Library Computer system; these TNG panels are properly referred to as LCARS (Library Computer Access and Retrieval System) panels. The production crew of Star Trek: TNG often informally and affectionately spoke of the panel graphics as Okudagrams - in tribute to TNG Senior Graphics Designer / Scenic Art Supervisor Michael Okuda who created them. In the same way that Matt Jefferies was responsible for creating much of the look and feel of the 23rd century world of TOS as Art Director and Production Designer for The Original Series; folks like Mike Okuda and Senior Illustrator Rick Sternbach were pivotal in designing the look and feel of the 24th century TNG world. And now, some of the NextGen control panels and displays ...

























































Technically not 24th century, but seen in an episode of TNG ...