“Study the Art of Science, study the Science of Art. Develop your senses, especially learn how to see, realize that everything connects to everything else.”
Leonardo da Vinci, POLYMATH
Design leader focused on clarity, craft, and delivery
I’m a design leader with a background spanning product design, research, and education. My work sits at the intersection of user needs, business priorities, and team execution—helping organizations move from ambiguity to clear direction and shipped outcomes.
I’ve led designers and cross-functional partners across startups, agencies, and learning environments, often in roles where influence mattered more than title. Whether shaping a product vision, guiding a team through trade-offs, or aligning stakeholders around shared priorities, I focus on creating the conditions for good work to happen consistently.
My approach to leadership is grounded in practice. I value strong craft, but I’m equally focused on decision-making, momentum, and accountability. I aim to raise the quality of thinking without slowing teams down—and to help designers grow into confident, independent contributors.
“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”
George Bernard Shaw, Playwrite
Learning as a lifestyle
Learning is a habit for me, not a side interest. Outside of work, I’m often immersed in a new discipline—preparing art for a gallery show, training in boxing, practicing dance, or refining a craft like latte art. I’m comfortable being a beginner and deliberate about improving.
That mindset carries directly into my leadership style. I value experimentation, fast feedback, and reflection—not as ends in themselves, but as tools for better decisions.
In my downtime, I’m usually in an escape room or at a tabletop game, drawn to systems that reward collaboration, pattern recognition, and decision-making under constraints—the same dynamics that show up in design leadership every day.
“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.”
Peter Drucker, educator
How I lead
I believe effective design management is less about control and more about clarity.
I spend my time:
- Framing problems and defining success criteria
- Supporting designers through feedback, coaching, and prioritization
- Partnering closely with product and engineering to align goals and constraints
- Making trade-offs visible so teams can move forward with confidence
My background in teaching and facilitation has shaped how I lead teams—by listening carefully, asking better questions, and creating space for honest discussion. The goal isn’t consensus; it’s shared understanding and forward motion.
People come to me when they have strong instincts about a product, but need help turning those instincts into a defensible product decision.
Dan has a deep and intimate knowledge of the UX design process. He is great at explaining concepts in a relatable and applicable way. During his lessons, he brought in examples from his professional experience so that learnings always felt very practical and linked to real-life scenarios. He provided a thorough and deeply informed answer to each question students posed.
Carolyn J.,
Design Consultant | Strategic UX and Visual Design for Product and Marketing Teams
I had the pleasure of being taught by Dan Vang for my UXDI program at General Assembly for which I am immensely grateful. Not only did Dan display his profound knowledge in everything UX, he showed that he truly cared about his students. Dan pushed us to become not only better UX Designers but better people. He was always encouraging us to not be afraid to ask questions and really channel that growth mindset. I’d highly recommend working with Dan if you want a great leader, mentor, and overall amazing addition to any project or team!
Ray F.,
Product Designer | Turning problems into opportunities | A11y
Dan has always prioritized team collaboration and has a breadth of experience working in cross functional teams. His experience with cross functional collaboration was very apparent as an instructor. Dan’s philosophy on collaboration is to understand each team member’s motivations and only then can people achieve shared goals effectively.
Ellie T.,
Product Designer | User-Centered Design | Digital Storyteller | Dedicated Researcher | Lifelong Learner
Experience
Senior Product & UX Designer with a track record of leading user-centered initiatives from concept to launch. My career evolved from foundational work in visual design and digital strategy to specializing in UX, where I now apply systems thinking and a data-informed approach to solve complex problems. I excel at mentoring teams, translating business goals into actionable product strategy, and designing accessible, impactful solutions.
What I’m looking for
I’m looking for a Product Manager role that sits early in the product lifecycle, where discovery and decision-making are central and the value for customers is still being defined. I enjoy working in ambiguous environments, using research, data, and early signals to build empathy, shape a clear product narrative, and guide teams toward confident direction. I’m most effective in organizations that treat UX as a strategic framework for understanding people and their problems, and where Product Managers are trusted to own decisions — not just manage delivery.
General Assembly
2022 – Current, Los Angeles
UX Design SME and Mentor
- Led cross-functional teams of students and collaborated with over 30 clients across industries to deliver user-centered solutions aligned with business goals, including a pilot initiative with Adobe focused on generative AI adoption.
- Coached and mentored over 120 students in making data-driven product decisions through user research, analytics, and iterative testing.
- Designed and refined curriculum based on independent research and direct feedback from learners, reinforcing my commitment to continuous improvement and user-centered product thinking.
Freelance
2018 – 2022, Los Angeles
UX Designer
- Led end-to-end design initiatives across entertainment, telehealth, and software sectors, delivering user-centered solutions that prioritized accessibility and aligned with WCAG standards.
- Conducted research, usability testing, and prototyping to improve onboarding, engagement, and product usability for clients like Cipher Skin, Digital Karma, and WeAreMatik.
- Delivered high-impact, accessible experiences under tight deadlines in lean environments, with outcomes tailored to diverse user needs and real-world constraints.
Outlook News
2012 – 2018, Los Angeles
Graphic Designer
- Collaborated with design, marketing, sales, and IT teams to rebuild the company’s digital presence and launch an online sales platform that improved accessibility and revenue potential.
- Led a workflow optimization initiative using Adobe automation tools, reducing production turnaround time by over 50%.
- Developed training materials and style guides to standardize processes and support cross-functional alignment in a lean environment.
Let’s explore together.
Wondering how you could integrate the design framework into your own business? Let me tell you about what I enjoy the most about product design.
Say Hello!