I’m going to get crucified for this, but I really dig Discovery’s design language (both the show in general and the ship herself). In particular (I’m ready for those nails), I like their take on the Enterprise in season 2 (and subsequently SNW). In my mind it’s tied with late-TNG era stuff which is what I grew up watching. I have mad respect for the older designs, but I find that modernizing the classics isn’t diminishing my enjoyment even though I’m very acutely aware of the canon issues.
My only problem with Discovery era is that the areas are made to be more spacious than TNG, which was supposed to be cruise ship quality. The design language is modern, but it feels way too spacious.
That’s really my point as well. The modern updates of ships are because our expectations have definitely shifted. I feel like disparate design languages of the shows don’t necessarily have to detract from the shared universe. Though, don’t get me wrong, Star Trek is many things but one thing it isn’t, and has never purported to be, is a documentary. By that I mean that the set dressing, the costumes, our “presence” as the audience, everything about the way the shows are produced tells me we’re watching a dramatization of the “real” events. Contrast that with something like the 2000s era Battlestar Galactica which had a lot of elements in its filming that were designed to make it feel more like a documentary and we, the audience, were watching footage captured of “real” events.
I really hate the transparent consoles they use in new Trek. I would be so angry being forced to work on one those ~8 hours per day. How can you see anything with zero contrast and background disruptions?! Like trying to read a web page with a movie going on behind it.
My computer terminal is at 75% opacity just for the novelty and visuals, but it makes it harder to work with. I wouldn't have it if I were working in the terminal all day.