The Harkonnen war table, a central narrative prop throughout Dune: Part Two, features a detailed 3D holographic display. Principally, its design was inspired by the dialogue, “Your orders are to control the whole planet.
“I only see half of it”. We blended the strict formations of their forces with the curved, organic forms of their ships to create a visual system that feels both informative and robust.
The projected visuals evoke the arid landscape of Arrakis, giving the light a physical presence. The typeface and UI were inspired by the insectoid language on Harkonnen ships and the braille-esque font of their console readouts.
We also incorporated the visual feel of the Mentat chant vibrations by researching historical musical annotations. These elements, combined with a volume of light surrounding the hologram, give it a more analogue feel and add depth to the director’s vision of the Dune universe.