She attended the Rhode Island School of Design, but when Miller's father died second year, she transferred to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where she lived closer to her mother.

[2][4] Miller's 1985 thesis studies design, sociology and history to give a portrait of African American job prospects.

[citation needed] After finishing school, Miller worked in broadcast design where she created on-air sets and graphics.

After 10 years in broadcasting, she moved to New York City and attended Pratt Institute, and then graduated from Union Theological Seminary.

"The first AIGA Minority Task Force was established in1989 to help end the marginalization of people of color..."[12] It was composed of Miller, John Morning, and six other professionals.

In 1987, Print Magazine published an article on Miller's thesis titled "Black Designers Missing in Action.

[19][20] The article spurred Stanford University design scholar Michael Grant and the library's special collection director, Regina Roberts, to archive the thesis and catalog of Miller's design work in the Cheryl D. Miller Collection the university.

Miller's research found that post-Civil War, the Typographic Union of white printers shut out black and women artisans from the industry to further their own business goals.

I want to retire the Swiss grid… It is the look of my oppressor… a mid-century era when it wasn’t easy to enter the NY marketplace as a Black designer.

This work integrates historical investigation and an urgent call for justice and recognition for Black designers.

[35] Miller hosted the "AIGA 2024 MARGINS" conference, featuring speakers from various industry leaders in the field of higher education.

"Miller is recognized for her outsized influence within the profession to end the marginalization of BIPOC designers through her civil rights activism, industry exposé writing, research rigor, and archival vision.".

[42] As part of this residency, Miller participated in "Voices: Black Graphic Design History,” where she held conversations with three other Steinmetz D webinar lectures.

[44] Miller was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, February 2021.

[7][8] In June 2022, Miller was awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.