Meet Nicholas Miner

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicholas Miner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nicholas, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I vividly remember sitting at the kitchen table with my grandfather when I was in high school. He was a hardworking welding inspector, and I can still hear his words echoing in my head: “There may be men out there stronger or smarter than me, but nobody is going to outwork me.” — Michael Rodriguez. Even in his 60s, my grandfather lived by this, and though he’s since passed, his work ethic lives on in me. I still keep his hardhat hanging on my office wall as a reminder to push through and work hard.

I come from a modest background, and I think there’s something inside of me that wants to prove I can do more. Maybe it’s my way of proving to myself that I can be more. Whatever it is, it keeps me working hard and striving to do my best for the people I work with.

The real satisfaction for me comes from delivering great work to my clients and seeing their excitement. The joy I get from my work makes the hard work feel like a natural part of the process.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a graphic designer with over a decade of experience, and I run my own studio, Miner Design Co. My work covers everything from branding and illustration to packaging and environmental design. I primarily work with restaurants, hospitality, retail, and food & beverage, but I’ve also had the pleasure of working across a wide range of industries.

What I love most is collaborating with businesses to create work that truly connects with people. It’s about turning their ideas into visuals that make an impact, and that challenge is what keeps me excited. Above all, though, I’m focused on putting people first. I like to build strong, lasting relationships with my clients because I believe that’s where the real magic happens.

I’m currently working on a new restaurant concept, developing the brand and helping with signage. I also just helped BRYC, a nonprofit that helps black students get into college, transform their buildings into a vibrant space for learning. It feels great to be a small part of such an important cause.

Right now, I’m still figuring out how to grow my business, which is all part of the fun of building something for myself. I’m always looking to push my creative boundaries and take on new challenges that allow me to grow as a designer while helping businesses succeed.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I’ve learned a lot over the past decade or so, but these three things have really helped me push forward:

1) Get out of your comfort zone:
You have to be willing to try something new, meet new people, or make decisions that might feel a little scary at the time. I believe the most growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.

2) Find a mentor or work for someone you look up to:
I attribute much of my success to the people I’ve had the privilege of working with. Collaborating with other creatives at various agencies really pushed me and helped me develop crucial skills—beyond just design, like communication, organization, and a business mindset. There’s a quote by Jack Welch that says, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” And I believe that. Surround yourself with smarter, more talented people who will challenge you.

3) Never stop learning:
I’ve always considered myself a student. Whether it’s picking up a new hobby like mountain biking or learning a new illustration technique, staying humble and keeping the mindset of a student is key. It means being open to being wrong and learning new ways of doing things. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of your growth.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely, I’m always looking for people to collaborate with.

Right now, I’m focused on connecting with architectural firms to explore how we can partner together. I’ve worked with a few firms in the past, and it’s always been a great fit. Often, they’re working on building a commercial space, and as a designer who specializes in branding and environmental graphics, our work complements each other perfectly. Whether it’s custom wallpaper, unique signage, murals, or wayfinding, I can help bring an extra level of customization to their projects that they wouldn’t be able to achieve without someone with my skill set.

I also really enjoy working with marketing managers in the restaurant industry. I can assist with rebrands, menu designs, merchandise, and other marketing assets to help elevate their visual presence.

If you have an idea, I’d love to help you bring it to life. Let’s Chat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://minerdesignco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minerdesignco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasgminer

Image Credits

Kim Meadowlark

James Peck