Like many other businesses during COVID, Miller Imaging & Digital Solutions, a 100-year-old woman-owned & operated business, remained a strong presence in the industry by conducting business through curbside service and delivery. During my time as Operations Manager, I decided it was critical to bring advertising outside where our customers are, while showing off our graphics printing and installation capabilities.

We decided to update the exterior of the Metric Blvd store in Austin, TX with a custom mural printed in-house, and anti-graffiti lamination to make the mural durable and easy to clean. To prep the wall and give our mural the best chance at adhering long-term, we first had to power wash it. We opted for a fresh coat of paint so that the colors would pop. The final prep was to let the paint “gas out” for 2 weeks (a critical step in adhesive vinyl processes. 

As far as the design goes, I wanted to include the ever-growing Austin skyline with the silhouettes of recognizable buildings across the entire background of the mural. I featured a variety of iconic Austin imagery because Miller is an iconic staple in the Austin printing & signage community. The graphic elements are all representative of Austin and Texas as a whole, which I think all Austinites and Texans can appreciate. The blue color scheme comes from the Miller logo, and a pop of new color represents another aspect of Miller’s commitment to growing and expanding, especially in its Graphics Department.

I featured the famous 6th Street or “Dirty 6th”, not only because it is famous in Austin, but also as a nod to the company’s long-standing time on 6th Street before relocating to East 7th. I included the quintessential phrase, “Keep Austin Weird” accompanied by a dancing taco, because we Austinites love our tacos. I paid tribute to the company’s home of 100 years with “512 Home” written down the door, and “We Love Austin” further down the wall paired with a horseshoe — because all Texans ride horses. Being in the Live Music Capital of the World, I had to include some music notes dancing across the skyline. I hope that those who drive by our building find some joy in the mural and may be inspired to change up their space with Miller’s help.

I had so much fun coming up with all the design aspects, prepping the space as a team, and sharing it with our community! In addition to the award-winning mural I had the pleasure of working on with this team, I was able to flex my creative mind during a period of growth for Miller. They no longer wanted to be known as just “Miller Blueprint”, but to be known as the go-to graphics and signage company in Austin. Leveling up our marketing efforts was among my tasks, from social media to newsletters, and PR to catalogs, my passion for the company and all it stood for was represented in all of my designs. See some of my additional work with Miller below, and if you need signage, visit millerids.com