Debbie Millman has an ongoing project at PRINT titled “What Matters.” This is an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers. This facet of the project is a request of each invited respondent to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Danny Miller is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of multidisciplinary creative agency High Tide. Born and raised in New York City, Danny currently leads a wide range of projects across cultural and commercial sectors, from ground-up brand identities for startups to global design initiatives. Their clients include Spotify, Resy, New Balance, Warby Parker and many others.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Connecting with my kids. Making coffee. Good strong coffee. Cooking a delicious meal for my family and enjoying it with them. Listening to music. Walking around New York City on a sunny day. Reading books. Listening to my mom tell stories about her childhood. Being in the ocean.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
Drawing pages upon pages of imaginary characters in a sketchbook on my bedroom floor at the age of five or six. I remember my room had burgundy wall-to-wall carpeting and I would often lay there on the floor, getting lost drawing in my sketchbook with a pencil for hours. I remember that I eventually got bored of drawing these figures with my left hand (I’m a leftie) so I started a new series where all the characters were drawn with my right hand. They all had a shakiness to them, so when I revisited my sketchbooks in later years, I could tell them apart. I’m still trying to track those sketchbooks down. I hope they are still around in a storage box somewhere.
That feeling of being so lost in the creative act – where your sense of time and space is completely unimportant – is something I find harder to access in recent years. A goal of mine is to get back to that place of deep work – being purely immersed in something, creating solely for yourself, and not being distracted or preoccupied with what the external world might think about it. That’s one thing about starting a creative agency I didn’t realize. So much of your time is taken up with a million other tasks that are not creative.
What is your biggest regret?
Not taking action because I was worried about what people would think. I’m proud of the risks I have taken, but maybe I could have been a bit braver and bolder earlier on. I was shy and could get in my own head as a youngster. Sometimes your biggest obstacle is yourself. I’ve learned through time that it’s best to aim your focus on what’s next and not to spend too much time looking back.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Time and reflection always help. Surround yourself with family and friends that love and support you. Processing heartbreak is important. Don’t suppress your feelings even if they are painful at first. I’ve learned from experience that sometimes the best art comes out of heartbreak. Lastly, doing pushups while listening to “Purple Rain” by Prince also helps a lot.
What makes you cry?
I’m not a big cryer but it always feels good after I have a good cry. The things that make me cry are certain childhood memories with my father, seeing my kids accomplish something great in front of my eyes, and that time I watched A Star is Born with Bradley Cooper on an airplane.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
Unfortunately, it usually only lasts for a few minutes before I begin to pick it all apart, imposter syndrome kicks in, or my inner voice immediately becomes self-critical. It’s something I know isn’t healthy mentally and it’s a constant work in progress. I think it’s important to be proud of your accomplishments and remind yourself of them to give you the confidence to go on to achieve bigger and better things. Too much self-criticism will ultimately prevent you from taking risks. Another thing I learned is that failure is the best teacher. You learn so much from failure.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
I don’t spend very much time thinking about that question, to be honest. I try to stay focused on the present and make the most of my time while I’m here. Getting better at what I’m doing every day, whether that’s through my relationships, kids, work, or leaving behind a cohesive and substantive body of work. My grandfather was a sculptor and my father was a painter. They both left so much work behind, and I feel that I am constantly interacting and in conversation with them through their artwork even though they are no longer around. I’m constantly unearthing all these amazing artworks they left behind. This remains a big inspiration for me.
What do you hate most about yourself?
Hate is a strong word, but I dislike how I can get into a pattern of self-doubt and second-guessing my instincts from time to time. I constantly have to remind myself that my thoughts and opinions are valid.
It’s important to remind yourself of your successes and not focus too much on your failures.
What do you love most about yourself?
I love that I’ve inherited a great sense of humor by growing up in a really funny family, and nothing brings me more joy than being able to make my wife and kids laugh.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
Steak au poivre with French fries from Raoul’s in Soho.