[1] In 1980, Mercier graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Dramatic Art and in 1983 received his MFA at the Yale School of Drama where he was named the Oenslager Scholar.
[2] He is also a Resident Designer for the Vineyard Theater in New York City and Geva Theatre Center in Rochester.
[3] At the Vineyard Theater, he has received three Drama Desk Nominations for Bed and Sofa (1996) by Polly Pen and Laurence Klavan, Dream True (1999) by Tina Landau and Ricky Ian Gordon, and Head of Passes (2016) by Tarell McCraney.
His first Broadway production was Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass (1997) by Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthalat at the Vivian Beaumont where he received a Tony Award Nomination for Scenery and two additional Drama Desk Nominations for Scenic Design and Costume Design.
[8] He lived in both Seattle, Washington and Rowayton, Connecticut, with his family while continuing to create, collaborate, and educate others about his work as a theatrical designer.