Ulster University is delighted to announce that Gerard Dunleavy, Creative Technologist at the Ulster Screen Academy and key contributor to the Studio Ulster project, was an integral member of the team that won an Academy Award for Best Production Design for Wicked at the 2025 Oscars.
Gerard’s exceptional concept artwork for Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, contributed to the win. He worked extensively with Production Designer Nathan Crowley on many of the location concept designs for the film, including The Emerald City and Shiz University.
Widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in the film and screen industry, Wicked was nominated in 10 categories in the 97th Academy Awards, and received the accolade in the category of Best Production Design. Nathan Crowley, alongside set decorator Lee Sandales accepted the award on the night.
Gerard Dunleavy, Creative Technologist at the Ulster Screen Academy, said:
“Growing up, I watched the Oscars every year, so very far away from Hollywood. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be part of creating an Oscar-winning film. It’s a great example to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can make it if you have the passion and work hard. It was an unbelievable experience to work on Wicked, and while the recognition afterwards is amazing, what gave me a buzz every day was working as part of such a fantastic team.”
The Ulster Screen Academy is dedicated to preparing the next generation of creative talent in Northern Ireland, with a strong emphasis on virtual production and visual storytelling. Gerard’s success reflects the Academy’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital art and inspiring future filmmakers and artists. Studio Ulster is a £72m state-of-the-art virtual production facility developed by Ulster University in partnership with Belfast Harbour with support from BRCD and NI Screen.
Image copyright of Universal Pictures
