^{Photography: Bethanie Hines}

“My purpose is to use storytelling and design to create moments of positive inspiration.”

Mike Nicholls is an Oakland-based award-winning creative director, brand strategist, editorial designer and visual artist using design as a tool for discovery, inspiration and community building. He has translated ideas into visionary creative solutions with over 20 years of design experience and natural talent. Mike founded Umber, a media and editorial platform highlighting creative perspectives that matter, which has been recognized by AfroTech (Blavity), PRINT Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, KQED and Communication Arts.

Mike is the Founder and CEO of Umber, a pioneering media company amplifying the global voices of Black people and people of color through print, digital content, and activations. With a focus on innovation and authenticity, Mike leads Umber's creative direction, editorial strategy, and business development, collaborating with contributors worldwide to cultivate a network of tastemakers and cultural leaders. Under his leadership, Umber has become a hub for storytelling, inspiration, and discovery, blending thoughtful narratives with bold visual design.

Mike also partnered with such places like Red Bay Coffee, AIGA SF, de Young Museum, Heath Ceramics, Inneract Project and Bandcamp. Mike has been fortunate to speak about his publishing work at SF Design Week, Hue Design Summit, Dropbox Design, Where are the Black Designers?, State of Black Design and AIGA Midwest Design Week.

To honor and celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Mike created an editorial project called A Life In Hip-Hop.

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Focus: Creative direction, brand strategy, editorial design, visual storytelling & design leadership.

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Schedule some time with Mike to discuss your next project.