Mik.

I'm a third year design student at Curtin University in WA, and this is an eclectic mix of creative projects; from fine art, to handcrafts, to fashion, to photography, to design... basically anything I can get my hands on :) All the works on this blog are my own... so please credit me as the creator if you're going to share it. It's starting to get quite full these days, so if you're in a hurry: don't forget you can check out the archive so you don't miss my earlier stuff! Ta xx

[mik-miller]

[mik-miller]

[mik-miller]

Recent Project: Typographic posters with a few random words of wisdom from some of the folk music greats - Bob Dylan, Neil Young & Cat Stevens// Yusuf Islam.  For Verse 3 of the Lyrics & Type Exhibition: “Folk Off”

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A little more from my recent travels. Sydney by night... feat. a red opera house for Chinese new year!

[mik-miller]

So its been a while since I’ve posted... whoops. Been busy traveling and working and generally just life. Here is a little pic from my travels.... Jewel Cave down near Augusta in late Jan. Can’t say I would recommend some of the tours for those keen photographers out there... purely because the tour is too fast paced and strictly controlled to allow for any creative freedom or individuality in your pics... but definitely worth a visit just because its bloody pretty!!

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Here is the rest of my decomposing toys series. And if you’re feeling like doing some reading.... here is the official rationale:

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Old toys that are falling apart for another still life photography project. continuing on my theme of childhood as with the flower from earlier. This time looking more at the transience of life and childhood, and play...and imagination too i guess. Also, I guess, a bit of a commentary on the disposability and excess of toys in contemporary life, when in my parents/ grandparents days you would only have a few precious items that you'd keep forever. This will be part of a series of 4.

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been doing some studio shots of some flowers for a catalogue project at uni. Here is a beautiful snapdragon from my nanna’s garden

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my book cover

[mik-miller]

So one of my uni projects this semester was to make a coffee table book, and for my theme I decided to photograph people’s jeans and find out the stories behind them. Most people have a pair of jeans... and they’re the type of clothing item that can lead a pretty exciting life and end up with lots of memories and/ or sentimental value. I wanted to use them as a little window into the lives of as many people as I could manage in the time frame. Some were friends and some were family, but most were strangers I found around Perth and Fremantle. The book kind of follows a similar documentary approach as the ‘humans of New York’ or ‘humans of Perth’ and other similar pages tat you may have heard of, but obviously with my own quirky twist.  Anyway, the final printed book got delivered today, and it was very exciting and I’m pretty happy with how it’s turned out! There are a couple of little things I wish I’d picked up on in the test print, that I would have liked to fix.. but nothing too major.  I really enjoyed this project and even though I’m quite a shy person the experience of walking around the streets with my camera and meeting so many wonderful people, that I would otherwise have paid no attention too was really something special. This is definitely and idea/ project  I am seriously considering taking further in the future. Sorry for the essay, but I just really want to say thanks to all who were part of this book: I’m very grateful for your open minds, enthusiasm and willingness to share your stories with me. Here are a few spreads from the book, hope you like them :)

[mik-miller]

Still life photography for uni. It’s supposed to be a visual metaphor for how our upbringing, and the values and opinions of those around us (parents, friends, education, etc.) influence the people we grow up to be. Some inspiration taken from the poem ‘Children live what they learn’ by Dorothy Law Nolte.

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follow me...

I have instagram now, do have a look see.

@mikmiller_

[mik-miller]

I did a poster for a fake festival. 80′s oz-pop-rock theme. 80s surf brand inspiration. It’s pretty rad ;P except for some reason the jpeg format has made the patterned circle turn blue at the top instead of purple....?? Just imagine it’s the same colour as the band names.

[mik-miller]

Environmental Portrait of my Grandpa. Using available light plus one tungsten lamp. Stoked with this one... I can’t even tell you how much I love it... Grandpa to a T.

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My first real attempt at a studio shoot for my photography unit. Had to MacGyver a studio in my home office, tucked in a corner next to the filing cabinets, but hey.... it worked ok. One of my favourite shots so far.

[mik-miller]

some more hand-drawn type for my book

[mik-miller]

Lino cut typography for a coffee table book I’m making for my publication unit this semester.