The sound effects for the alien ship were produced by having a stage crew member eat half a large pizza and then sit quietly with dermal microphones taped to his stomach to record the sounds of his digestive process.
The growing chair was created by reversing a time-lapse film of a wax chair melting.
Based on David Bischoff's science fiction novella "Tin Woodman". This was published as a magazine feature in 1976, and revised and expanded in 1978 with some new material written by David Russell Bailey. The latter version was nominated for a Nebula Award in 1979. With a few changes to synchronize the story's internal logic with the established Trek universe, it was easily adapted for TNG.
This episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects.
The design of Gomtuu was based in part on a peach pit.