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In 1974, Ralph McQuarrie was brought on to illustrate Lucas’s ideas. His concept art established the visual aesthetic—droids leaving a desert planet, sleek spaceships, and ominous villains like Darth Vader. These images unified the evolving character designs: Luke became a hopeful farm boy, Han Solo a brash pilot, Princess Leia a spirited rebel, and Vader an intimidating force of darkness. The designs inspired by cars (rebel ships like X-wings and Y-wings, imperial ships like TIE fighters and Star Destroyers) reflected Lucas’s love for California cruising, giving the sci-fi world a distinctive, relatable flavor.