Hi, I’m Rudie Schaefer — a veteran Art Director with a passion for blending design, storytelling, and technology to bring immersive worlds to life.

Over the past decade, I’ve led teams on some of the most ambitious film and television projects in the world, including Avatar: The Way of Water and The Mandalorian. My focus is on the intersection of virtual production, physical set design, and cross-functional collaboration — where creative vision meets technical execution.

As the Lead Virtual Art Director on Avatar, I built and managed a cross-disciplinary Integration Department, helping bridge real-time virtual environments with physical proxy sets for large-scale motion capture. On The Mandalorian, I directed the design and construction of modular, LED-optimized sets that pushed the capabilities of in-camera VFX.

What drives me is the challenge of solving complex design problems with empathy, curiosity, and structure. Whether I’m coordinating a team of fabricators, iterating with VFX, or refining workflows with developers, I thrive on turning abstract ideas into actionable, beautiful solutions.

I'm always looking for opportunities to collaborate with visionary teams and explore new ways to tell stories — whether in film, games, experiential design, or the evolving space of augmented and mixed reality.

When I’m not building worlds, I’m raising two of my own, surfing when I can, and constantly learning what’s next.