Students of Design

Nicholas Miner – People Over Projects, Work Ethic, and Screwing Up Your Taxes – Ep31

Episode Summary

Nicholas—Nick—is a Graphic Designer and founder of Miner Design Co., located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He specializes in identity design, illustration, and packaging design, and works with restaurants, food and beverage companies, hospitality, and retail clients. Embracing discomfort has been a recurring theme throughout Nick's life, and much of his work ethic stems from his experiences living with his grandfather. He's a firm believer in "People Over Projects," and building relationships with his clients is more important than the dollar amount tied to each project. But, don't get it twisted, Nick's just like us. When he was younger, he wanted to build things with K'NEX for a living. He has a bookshelf full of design books that he doesn't reference often enough, he sent a job to print with a watermarked Shutterstock image in the layout, and he worries about where his next client will come from. Tune in for a talk about running his business, screwing up his taxes, and good old fashioned printed self-promotion pieces. Follow Nick on Instagram @minderdesignco, connect with him on LinkedIn, and see award-winning work on his website: minerdesignco.com.

Episode Notes

Nicholas—Nick—is a Graphic Designer and founder of Miner Design Co., located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He specializes in identity design, illustration, and packaging design, and works with restaurants, food and beverage companies, hospitality, and retail clients. Embracing discomfort has been a recurring theme throughout Nick's life, and much of his work ethic stems from his experiences living with his grandfather. He's a firm believer in "People Over Projects," and building relationships with his clients is more important than the dollar amount tied to each project. But, don't get it twisted, Nick's just like us. When he was younger, he wanted to build things with K'NEX for a living. He has a bookshelf full of design books that he doesn't reference often enough, he sent a job to print with a watermarked Shutterstock image in the layout, and he worries about where his next client will come from.

Tune in for a talk about running his business, screwing up his taxes, and good old fashioned printed self-promotion pieces. Follow Nick on Instagram @minderdesignco, connect with him on LinkedIn, and see award-winning work on his website: minerdesignco.com.

Questions for this interview.

• What does the phrase "People Over Projects" mean to you?
• Have you ever had a client demand a refund during a project?
• What conversation do you have with yourself, and how do you reframe rejection when a pitch or one of your proposals gets turned down or maybe even ignored?
• Would you recommend a troublesome client to a close design friend? How would you handle that situation? Is it something you've run into before?
• Your grandfather once said, "There may be men out there stronger or smarter than me, but nobody is going to outwork me." How do these words shape you and Miner Design Co.?
• Do you struggle to find balance between honoring that work ethic and knowing when to step back?
• Can you tell us the story of how your grandmother helped you redefine how you were marketing yourself and how she helped you get a job after graduation from LSU?
• You had a rough and uncomfortable childhood, and you moved seven times in high school. How did that volatility shape your ability to adapt and persevere in your career today?
• Surprisingly, you left your full-time agency job when your daughter was born. Why did you make that decision, and how did you and Katie prepare financially and emotionally for that transition?
• Have you ever made a mistake with your taxes?
• What was your biggest "aha" moment in your first year after going all in on Miner Design Co.?
• What part of the business still intimidates you in 2025?
• You recently posted a video on Instagram about your latest self-promotion piece. Can you talk about how it works, who you're sending it to, its versatility, and the cost of producing each one?