Norman Newberry is a renowned American art director, production designer, and digital technology specialist with a career spanning over five decades. Born to Bill Newberry, a qualified architect who worked as an art director under contract at Universal from 1955 to 1958, Norman followed in his father's footsteps, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Newberry began his journey in the film industry as a set designer in the 1960s, working at Universal Studios, just like his father. After a three-year stint in the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, also known as the "Seabees," he resumed his work in Hollywood as an art director for episodic television, working on notable shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man and Logan's Run.
In 1981, Newberry transitioned to feature films and went on to work on numerous projects, including the blockbuster motion picture Avatar in 2009. As the virtual production art director, he played a crucial role in creating the digital sets that brought the imaginary planet of Pandora to life. In an interview, Newberry explained his role, stating, "The director is holding a virtual camera, seeing the 3D set. Instead of being built by carpenters and painters, the sets were built by digital artists. I was managing the digital artists while making sure they delivered what James Cameron wanted onstage and that it worked in the film. You also have to produce a physical reference so the actor's performance matches the digital set."
Newberry later shifted his focus to theme park design, serving as the Executive Art Director and Design Director for Universal Creative in the U.S. and Japan. A long-standing member of the Art Directors Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he received a prize from the former in 2010 for Excellence in Production Design for Avatar and a shared Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Throughout his illustrious career, Norman Newberry has made significant contributions to the film and theme park industries, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of art direction and production design.
