Jake
Lunt
Davies

The first sketch of the droid that would eventually become BB-8 was a simple drawing of two circles, one resting on top of the other, with a single eye looking back. Jake Lunt Davies is the British creature designer and concept artist best known for designing BB-8 and the Porgs in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Working within the prestigious Lucasfilm Creature Shop, he was tasked with a challenge few artists face: creating characters that could stand alongside R2-D2 and C-3PO in the pantheon of cinematic icons. Jake Lunt Davies played a pivotal role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which ran in theaters in 2015 and launched a new era for the Disney-owned franchise. His ability to find personality in geometric shapes turned a spherical droid into the heart of a multi-billion dollar trilogy.

While the droids are his most visible contribution, the depth of his portfolio reveals a much wider range of craft. Jake Lunt Davies served as a concept artist for the gritty horror-action hybrid Overlord in 2018, where the design requirements were far removed from the polished aesthetic of Lucasfilm. He also contributed conceptual design to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) on Netflix, working with director Rian Johnson to define the visual language of a modern-day eccentric billionaire's private island. These credits demonstrate that his skill lies not just in creature design, but in the total visual realization of a director's world. Whether he is storyboarding a sequence for Great Expectations (2011) or designing a new alien species, his work is grounded in the physical reality of how a camera interacts with an object.

For the convention promoter, Jake Lunt Davies represents a unique draw that bridges the gap between casual fans and the dedicated propmaking community. The Star Wars fandom is one of the few that genuinely claims its behind-the-scenes artists as celebrities. When Jake Lunt Davies attends a convention, he attracts a high-engagement audience of droid builders, creature effects students, and 'porg-bounding' cosplayers. His panels are often technical masterclasses, explaining the transition from a 2D sketch to a 3D practical puppet that can perform alongside actors like Daisy Ridley or John Boyega. This live encounter offers fans a 'peek behind the curtain' that is impossible to replicate through digital media, making his signing table a destination for those looking to authenticate their high-end collectibles.

The current relevance of his work is sustained by the permanent place BB-8 and the Porgs have taken in pop culture and theme parks like Galaxy’s Edge. As fans continue to stream the sequel trilogy on Disney+, new generations are introduced to his designs daily. His more recent work, such as storyboarding for the 2025 film The Family Plan 2, keeps him active in the contemporary production cycle of major studios. This dual appeal—as both a legacy designer of iconic Star Wars characters and a working concept artist on current hits—makes him a safe and high-value booking for genre-focused events. Meeting the person who defined the look of the modern galaxy is a bucket-list item for the modern Star Wars enthusiast.

Ultimately, a live appearance by Jake Lunt Davies provides a factual, grounded look at the evolution of cinema. Fans aren't just meeting an artist; they are meeting the creator of a cultural mascot. His reputation for being accessible and technically articulate ensures that every fan walk-away is a positive experience. In an industry that is increasingly reliant on anonymous digital assets, the tangible, puppet-based history that Davies represents is a powerful selling point. He remains one of the few artists who can explain exactly why a spherical droid feels like it has a soul, and for the Star Wars community, that explanation is worth the price of admission.