Melissa Elbers: Designing Spaces vs. Shaping Clay, A Look at Two Creative Worlds

What do architecture and ceramics have in common? For Melissa Elbers, founder of Nimbus Design Shop, they are two sides of the same creative life. One is structured and strategic, the other intuitive and free-flowing, but together, they form a conversation that shapes her approach to design, making her work both grounded and alive.

Melissa’s background is in architecture. She studied at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, and even while in school, she began working in the field. Architecture gave her the tools to solve complex design problems, think about spaces, and turn ideas into something real. Her process is methodical, research the function of the space, understand the client’s needs, pick materials, and then develop solutions that are both smart and beautiful.

Designing buildings and spaces is a team effort. It requires precision, planning, and constant collaboration. You are not just designing for yourself, you are creating for others, and every decision matters. Regulations, timelines, budgets, and expectations are all part of the mix. Melissa learned how to balance creativity with responsibility, and how to bring big ideas to life without losing sight of the details.

But not long after moving to the U.S., something shifted. She discovered ceramics, not through school or work, but as a personal creative outlet. What began as curiosity soon became a passion. Over time, it grew into a second practice that offered something her architectural work could not, spontaneity.

Working with clay gave Melissa the chance to create without overthinking. In ceramics, there is no client and no checklist. Just her, the material, and the freedom to explore. Some pieces are functional, others more sculptural. Sometimes they go according to plan. Other times, the clay has its own ideas. And that’s the point.

The contrast between these two creative spaces, architecture and ceramics, is what makes Melissa’s work so interesting. They may look different, but they fuel each other in surprising ways.

Her architectural eye shapes her ceramic work. She understands how objects live in space, how light interacts with surfaces, and how form and balance affect how something feels. Even in the smallest ceramic pieces, you can see traces of that architectural mindset.

At the same time, ceramics brings fresh energy into her design studio. It reminds her to slow down, to stay close to the materials, and to let go of perfection. That sense of play, of letting the process unfold instead of controlling every step, feeds back into her architectural thinking. It helps her stay open to new solutions and unexpected outcomes.

One area where the two practices meet beautifully is in lighting design. Melissa loves designing lamps because they combine structure with softness. A lamp needs to function well, but it also sets the tone of a space. It’s both utility and atmosphere. Her ceramic lamps, shaped by hand and guided by architectural principles, are a clear example of her dual design identity.

This blend of disciplines has not always been easy. Switching between architecture and ceramics means shifting mindsets. One is deadline-driven and technical, the other is open-ended and personal. But for Melissa, the back-and-forth keeps her work fresh. When one world gets too rigid, the other pulls her back into flow. And when things get too loose, architecture helps her ground the ideas in form.

What ties it all together is her love for design in all its forms. Whether she is working on a building or shaping a piece of clay, she is always thinking about how things come together, and how space, form, and feeling interact.

Melissa does not see herself as just an architect or just a ceramicist. She is both, and more. And in a creative world that often pushes people to pick a lane, she has chosen to explore the overlap. That’s where her best work lives.

Her story is a reminder that creativity does not have to be boxed in. Sometimes, it’s the space between disciplines that holds the most possibility. By letting architecture and ceramics influence each other, Melissa has created a practice that’s both mindful and hands-on, organized yet flexible.

In a world that often values narrow expertise, Melissa Elbers shows the power of range. She proves that when we stop separating our creative selves, we find a deeper kind of expression, and design that resonates on every level.