Mark's Starship Bridge Layouts
(Last Update 02-18-02)


Here's all the stuff I've done since I started posting them on the Flare Sci-Fi Forums. I'm no artist, but I had a few ideas for bridge design I thought I'd share. If you've got questions or comments, gimme a shout at the e-mail address on the original sketch.

If you've got a careful eye, you can probably spot how I did them. I only drew half of the bridge, scanned it in, and on Photoshop I flipped the bridge over and merged the two layers. It's a heck of a lot easier than trying to draw a symetrical bridge, I've found. Text and other stuff was also added in Photoshop.

Finally, if anyone wants to use the original sketches on their site, please contact me first at the e-mail provided, and leave my credit on the picture. If you want to use any of the cleanups, I'd suggest you contact the people who did the work - they're way better than me at it. Oh, and consider this an open invitation for any 3D modelling people to convert any of these designs into a 3D model - that'd be exceptionally cool.
 

BRIDGE TYPE 
THUMBNAIL
PICTURES 
Science Type

The Science-type bridge is based on the Miranda-class USS Br!ttain bridge, streamlining it somewhat. I've always liked how there were two forward-facing consoles beind the CO chair. On the Br!ttain, I think it was Engineering that was supposed to be back there, but i moved it to the front to distinguish between the people running the ship and the people running the science missions. The Mission Ops console is meant to be used when the starship is on station, and to monitor mission-specific sensors and equipment. It would double as a Tactical console if needed, which it generally wouldn't be on a science ship. 
 

Original Sketch

Chris's Cleanup

Science Type 2

Again, the focus is on separating the ship's functions, however in this one I've added a couple extra stations for additional control over the ship. This bridge represents a newer style than the Science 1 bridge. It also adds a situation table of sorts at the back, akin to the one on the Defiant. However, it's not retractable and the science stations share the space somewhat. I liked the result of making the forward consoles flow into one another.
 

Original Sketch
Escort Type

The Escort-type bridge is what I'd imagine the bridge of a small ship built for escort and patrol duties would look like. Since the ship Captain would likely not necessarily be of Captain rank, it follows that he generally would be doing a lot of the shipboard stuff in addition to command duties. Thus, he gets his own console to sit at (forward of the Mission Ops console) that combines the functions of Operations and Tactical, such that the CO can assist in those areas in combat. I'd gather that communications would be handled from there too. Since there wouldn't be much mission-specific stuff on a patrol or escort ship, the Mission Ops console is small and free-standing, sorta like the one Seven usually uses on Voyager's bridge. The mission specialist would use that when the ship is on-station.
 

Original Sketch

Chris's Cleanup

Escort Type 2

Looking for a Sovereign-class update for the smallest starships resulted in this design. The CO chair has a smaller monitor in front of it for auxilliary communications and so forth. However, unlike the Type 1 escort this one does not have any additional stations, or even places to stand. However, it has an access to a Ready Room despite probably not being large enough to have one in the first place...

Original Sketch
Transport Type

The Transport bridge is my minimalist design as far as bridges go. I figure that there really wouldn't be much to do on a cargo freighter, and so the Captain doesn't even have a chair - he'd man the Sensor and Tatical console in combat, were that ever to occur. Otherwise, he'd either man the Ops console himself or come to the bridge only when really necessary for communications or special circumstances, and would man the centre console then.
 

Original Sketch

Chris's Cleanup

Transport Type 2

A larger, more standard version of the Transport bridge, meant for larger, more standard transports or freighters. As with the other Transport bridge, there is no direct turbolift access, and the sensor and tactical stations are not normally manned. The "systems monitors" to either side are for various ships' systems, including the status of the cargo being carried. This time, the Captain would occupy a center seat, though in combat he'd likely either man one of the railing consoles or reconfigure his chair to that end.

Original Sketch
Explorer Type

This bridge was partially inspired by taking a close look at the bridge of the USS Bozeman from "Cause and Effect". The only really notable feature is that there are consoles forward of the railing that separates the command section from the aft stations. I tried to replicate that sort of feature here in a pre-TNG, post-movie TOS Movie era - not to much avail, since I dislike bridges with lots of free-standing or free-sitting consoles. Like the Sovereign-class bridge. Yuck.
 

Original Sketch

Someone's Cleanup
(e-mail me back, man!)

Explorer Type 2

The Explorer2 bridge was partially inspired by Shik's Gaia design, with the forward consoles flanking the viewer and multiple levels, and partially by a system of waterfalls in a Japanese garden I was once at. I envision this one as a fleet combat kind of bridge, with a necessary Strategic Ops station for fleet coordination and communication. If there's one thing I find odd about this design, is that it's got waaaay too many angles. If it ever gets built, I'll have to remember to bring sandpaper...
 

Original Sketch

Antagonist's Cleanup

Explorer Type 3

The unique feature of this bridge is the forward consoles, which are three-sided and thus allow the people there to work facing the main viewer and the MSD on the wall. Also, the aft-facing portion of the console is flat-topped, allowing people standing behind the console to use them as well. This bridge is to be used with the smaller classes of Explorers. 

 

Original Sketch
Explorer Type 4

A little crowded, this one; but it's a try at expanding the Defiant-class idea to a larger starship. The Mission Ops console behind the CO chair is something of a misnomer, as it's more of a reconfigurable console for whoever is extra on the bridge that would need it. There's also only two doors to the bridge, which is kinda low for a TNG era bridge, but everything's there. The Conn position is raised on a half-step, not a full step, as on the Defiant's console. I like these bridges where there's floor to ceiling columns in the middle of the bridge, whcih adds a sense of reinforcement to the room. It also adds more things for standing people to hang on to. :)

Original Sketch
Cruiser Type

The Cruiser bridge is the opposite of the above; it's almost too round. Anyway, I wanted to have the Captain and crew really squished in together to facilitate command decisions, resulting in the final design. The "Aux Sys" console is mostly a monitoring console, and is there for when the Captain wants to look at something his chair-mounted mini-displays won't show. He can stand there (almost as if it were the wheelstation on a sailing ship) and give orders without everyone being too far away. One neat thing about both this and the Explorer2 bridges are that the Conference Lounges are forward fo the bridge - gives people a better view of where they're going, rather than where they were.
 

Original Sketch
Cruiser Type 2

This is my second attempt to do a Cruiser bridge, getting rid of all the roundness. I tried to unclutter and reduce the size of the Sovereign bridge we see on the E-E, with the floor-ceiling arches and newer style consoles (with multiple smaller LCARS displays instead of one big one). If I were to ever command a ship smaller than a Galaxy or Sovereign class, I'd want my bridge to look like this. 

BTW, this one is my current favorite. If anyone's into making 3D models of sets and would like to take a crack at any of the designs here, this is the one to do. :)
 

Original Sketch

Chris's Cleanup

Cruiser Type 3

This one was inspired by the bridge of the Constellation-ish class USS Tubman from one of the old TNG comics. I'm getting to like the idea of putting the CO chair alone on a raised platform. The bridge features standing extras on flanking consoles to the CO, though I guess they could use a little more room on the sides. 

 

Original Sketch

Chris's Cleanup

Cruiser Type 4

I tried to update the old TOS movie-era bridges with this revision. The bridge could fit in the saucers of Constitution saucers (or thereabouts), swapping a turbolift for a more dedicated Deck 2 access. No biggie there, as there are fewer crew stations regardless. I especially like the dual tactical stations in the center section, in a reverse curve from the usual style of console in that area. 

Original Sketch
Command Type

Inspired by Prakesh's "Command Bridge", I set to do something similar, but for fleet command only. I envision this as a replacement Battle Bridge from which an Admiral could command the fleet. This would be used as a bridge in Separated Flight Mode, as in that eventuality the odds are that the ship wouldn't be used as a flagship.Alternatively, this could be buried deep in the middle of a starship hull, with access only through the turbolifts and the security lounge.

Of note, I've broken tradition and added in the conference lounge and Commander's office, to show the connection between the two and the main command centre. It's an odd arrangement, but I think it works well.
 

Original Sketch


Thanks to the Practical Unicorn for the space! I'm all thumbs at this web writing stuff. :P
1