With over one hundred regional costume design credits in Theatre, Dance, Opera, experience in television and film, and almost two decades of freelancing as a costume and scenic designer; Nikki’s experience in design is vast. She recently moved to Philadelphia from NYC after living in Chicago and Los Angeles, and is excited to further expand her artistic community as a new Philly resident.

Nikki's designs have been seen at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Bedlam Theatre Ensemble, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Yale Repertory Theatre, Kimmel Center, Disney’s REDCAT, Barrington Stage, Princeton University, Trinity Repertory, Broadway Sacramento, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey among many others. She’s been nominated for two Philadelphia Barrymores, four Syracuse SALTs, two Los Angeles Garlands, and a Chicago Joseph Jefferson Award. Her designs for The Birds was chosen for the 2006 Prague Quadrennial to represent the United States. She’s extensively worked with directors Rebecca Wright, Paul Mullins, Bonnie Monte, Stephen Svoboda, Jose Luis Valenzuela, Louisa Proske, and Flordelino Lagundino. She spent time teaching and mentoring costume and scenic design students as the interim Head of Design at Amherst College in 2014.

Nikki is a storyteller and world builder. She thrives in fluid design teams who value cross design processes. She is found in collaborations that value her dramaturgical questioning and wholistic approach to design. Some recent new works include Bedlam Theatre’s New York Animals (directed by Eric Tucker, music by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater), Pig Iron’s Poor Judge (directed by Eva Stienmetz, lead artist Dito Van Reigersberg ) and Applied Mechanics Other Orbits (directed by Rebecca Wright). Recent designs with The Private Theatre on Spiritual Experience (currently running) and Perfect Day (directed by Rebecca Wright and written by Adriano Shaplin) showcase Nikki’s unconventional and intimate scenic and costume designs in performances made for one or two people. Currently she is designing costumes for Theatre Horizon and Pennsylvania Shakespeare's upcoming Penelope (directed by Eva Stienmetz, music by Alex Bechtel), and the Arden Theatre Company's The Hobbit. 

With a strong belief in the importance of truly living life in order to successfully design, Nikki is an avid adventurer. Some highlights include biking across the country (Seattle to Coney Island), surfing in Morocco, exploring with lemurs in Madagascar, and biking through the incredible architecture and ruins of Ankor Wat. 

Nikki holds an MFA from Yale University (Donald and Zorka Oensalger Scholarship Recipient), and a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University (Elizabeth Schrader Design Award) and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829

**Additional portfolio materials available upon request

PDF of Resume