My name is Nadine Merz, I am a graphic designer, illustrator & handcrafter, mainly working with ceramics.
I found my passion for ceramics in 2017 when my boyfriend and I relocated to wonderful Copenhagen, Denmark. Since then, I am trying my best to learn his mother tongue, while developing my handcrafting, illustration and design projects.
Being away from my first home, Switzerland, I miss my friends and family, but also the beauty of nature and landscapes. This duality inspires me and reflects in my simple and genuine designs.
My background as a graphic designer is still a part of my daily life. I work for different clients, doing print design or illustrations.
After we moved I found a part-time job in a studio for handmade objects. I got to know clay and fell in love with it from the first second. Since then I have been slowly teaching myself by doing, and exploring the material.
Everything I do is 100% handmade, out of stoneware and made in small batches or even one of a kind. I use the pinch pot technique or a slab method, that gives my objects a unique and very handmade touch. I play with the wonderful material, keep an open mind and try new things frequently.
My design is very soft, organically formed, in natural colors and a bit... cute.
Since the industrial revolution, our environment is filled with so many mass-produced things. With my work, I try to go back in time, where things were handcrafted by individuals, which gave them soul. It contributes to people's lives to surround themselves with natural materials and special objects made with love and personality. They radiate a feeling of warmth and worth and are here to be kept.
Working with clay also means slowing down. Every step takes time and hurrying during the work process is never a good idea. It is in total contrast to our fast-paced society. It is teaching me to slow down, plan the days realistically and leave some space for the ideas and the craft when needed.