Emily Nelson is a Chicago-born costume designer whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, movement, and character. Designing professionally since 2007, she has created costumes for opera, theater, and dance, collaborating with companies throughout the Chicagoland area as well as productions touring across the United States and Europe. Her designs have been recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. Equally at home in large-scale opera and intimate storefront theater, Emily brings a deeply collaborative, character-driven approach to her work, shaping visual worlds that support performance and elevate narrative.