Something similar was done and it yielded the art cover for the luna class of the Titan Book series
http://www.maximillian.org/maxwebimages/Home%20page/180px-USS_Titan.jpg
inspired design that won, and currently in game as a science ship option.
I think it would be a way to get some innovative and inspired ship designs into the game at a later time when say an expansion is offered. Kind of early I know, but I think it would be nice.