Considering there is a different designer for almost every Star Wars film, it could be assumed that every film is very different or inconsistent in its design. However, all of the films show common design features and it never fails to maintain that Star Wars feeling.
There doesn’t seem to be a specific style of Architecture used for Star Wars, as a lot of inspiration is taken from the real world and then twisted to suit the planet it’s on. This is a very common design factor, that every building seems to fit seamlessly on its planet, this is usually because they used the materials on that planet to build their structures.
For example, on Tatooine, a sand planet, the buildings look as if they’re made of sand (Concrete), and use broken off pieces of ships as their doors as that planet is known for ship scrapping.
https://theconversation.com/star-wars-planet-with-two-suns-a-step-towards-luke-skywalkers-tatooine-3379
Another important factor to designing somewhere for Star Wars is that every place has a lot of history and a story behind it. This usually influences the designs and how to evolve over time. At times this can be complicated to show, so it’s shown in small detailing such as engravings, statues or even graffiti on walls.
The Mandalorian Rogue One Ralph McQuarrie Concept Art
https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/149596/whats-the-story-behind-the-fallen-statue-on-jedha
https://numidianprime.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/the-runic-language-of-the-sith/
Even though there a specific Star Wars Architecture, there are common features that a large majority of structures in Star Wars have.
– Landing Platform
– Big memorial Statues (in places of power)
– Dynamic shapes
– Monumental walkway or promenade
– Grand Entrance
– Use of materials on the planet they’re on
– Extreme contrast in the powerful and less powerful (Rich and Poor, Strong and Weak)
– A specific building of Power
The Empire Strikes Back Prequal Trilogy Prequal Trilogy Concept Art The Force Awakens
https://www.starwars.com/news/galactic-backpacking-part-5-visiting-real-world-theed-plaza
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Jedi_Temple
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/First_Order_military
Lastly, an aspect of design in Star Wars that appeals to the hardcore fans in particular is the use of Easter Eggs, which can be a bit complicated to explain. Easter Eggs are used in films, tv, games, usually in a a running series, as a way to drop hints about something. When I say something, it can literally be anything from a teaser for a new character, something personal to the director, a link between stories or a reference to something that has previously happened. It seems that placing Easter Eggs is a great way to engage with the audience, and allows them to take things and unpack it, then reveal their theories and findings to other fans. Easter Egg videos are extremely common on youtube, where Fan Theorists will learn great amounts about a franchise, then when a new film/show/trailer is released, they’ll pick it apart and list Easter Eggs they’ve found and explain what they think it means.
An example of an Easter egg is in Raiders of the Lost Arc, which stars Harrison Ford who also played Han Solo in Star Wars. There is a shot that shows a Gold Artefact with hieroglyphs on it, one of the hieroglyphs is of C3PO and R2D2, droids from Star Wars.
Star Wars is absolutely no exception to this. An example of an Easter Egg in Stars is that Princess Leia cell number in A New Hope is 2187, which is the same number as Finns Stormtrooper name which is FN-2187.
Some very useful link when designing my set was using this material list as a reference:
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Gemstones
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Metals
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Substances
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Minerals
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Lightsaber-resistant_materials
Film Credits
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
Production Designer: John Barry
Art Director: Leslie Dilley, Norman Reynolds
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Production Designer: Norman Reynolds
Art Director: Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, Alan Tomkins
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
Production Designer: Norman Reynolds
Art Director: Fred Hole, James L. Schoppe
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Production Designer: Gavin Bocquet
Art Director: Phil Harvey, Fred Hole, John King, Rod McLean, Peter Russell
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Production Designer: Gavin Bocquet
Art Director: Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey, Fred Hole, Jonathan Lee, Michelle McGahey, Peter Russell
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Production Designer: Gavin Bocquet
Art Director: Ian Gracie, Phil Harvey, David Lee, Peter Russell
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
Production Designer: Rick Carter, Darren Gilford
Art Director: Alastair Bullock, Ajay Chodanker, James Clyne, James Collins, Robert Cowper, Peter Dorme, Jordana Finkel, Mark Harris, Kevin Jenkins, Ashley Lamont, Neil Lamont, Mary Mackenzie, Andrew Palmer, Stuart Rose, Hayley Easton Street, Stephen Swain, Gary Tomkins
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Production Designer: Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont
Art Director: Alex Baily, Alastair Bullock, Robert Cowper, Jordana Finkel, Lydia Fry, Ashley Lamont, Steven Lawrence, Juan Pablo Monroy, Oliver Roberts, Stuart Rose, Stephen Swain, Gary Tomkins, Helen Xenopoulos
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs
Art Director: Andrew Bennett, Neal Callow, Todd Cherniawsky, Dean Clegg, John Dexter , Gregory Fangeaux, Mark Harris, Kevin Jenkins , Jason Knox-Johnston, Chris Lowe, Oli van der Vijver,Matt Wynne
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Production Designer: Neil Lamont
Art Director: Alex Baily, Oliver Carroll, Peter Dorme, Ashley Lamont, Andrew Palmer, Oliver Roberts, Stephen Swain, Gary Tomkins, Tom Weaving, Tom Whitehead
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Production Designer: Rick Carter, Kevin Jenkins
Art Director: Jim Barr, Claire Fleming, Lydia Fry, Liam Georgensen, Patrick Harris, Paul Inglis, Samy Keilani, Ashley Lamont, Christa Munro, Daniel Nussbaumer, Oliver Roberts, Mike Stallion, Oli van der Vijver, Chris Voy, Robert Voysey, Matt Wynne