“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
A career built on curiosity, experimentation, and the belief that great design puts people first.
Hi, I’m Dan — a designer turned product thinker who’s spent years connecting people to the solutions they need.
I started out teaching myself graphic design, and over time, I found myself asking deeper questions — not just how something should look, but why it should exist in the first place. That curiosity led me into UX, where I picked up research, accessibility, and a love for digging into user behavior.
Lately, my focus has shifted toward product management — I’m fascinated by how design, data, and business strategy all connect. I love working with cross-functional teams, making sense of complex problems, and figuring things out independently when answers aren’t so obvious.
I bring a growth-mindset, a strong sense of ownership, and an eagerness to learn. If you’re building something meaningful and looking for someone who can wear a few different hats while keeping users at the center, I’d love to be part of the team.
“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
Passionate about guiding teams to define problems and deliver purpose-driven solutions.
Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege to work on dozens of products from clients of early-stage startups while mentoring more than a hundred students.
Together, we navigated the uncertainties of discovering problems and converging on developing the best possible ideas while delivering under strict deadlines.
This experience helped me realize my passion for facilitating and leading team collaboration, and I am excited to continue encouraging others to practice curiosity and experimentation in future teams.
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
Learning as a lifestyle.
I love expressing myself through various activities, whether it’s creating art for a gallery, pouring latte art in a cafe, going toe-to-toe in the boxing ring, or tripping over my own toes on the dance floor. I enjoy the process of being a complete beginner and learning what it takes to achieve excellence.
My approach to everything in life is to lead with curiosity and experimentation. I consider myself a life-long learner. I’m deeply curious, passionate about learning, and open-minded towards new experiences and ideas.
If I’m not busy solving user problems, you could find me exploring escape rooms all over Los Angeles or playing tabletop role-playing games with my geeky friends.
Experience
After several years working in UX and product design, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the strategic side of building products — shaping vision, defining problems, and aligning cross-functional teams around user and business needs. My experience leading research, facilitating collaboration, and designing inclusive, user-centered solutions has naturally evolved into a passion for product management. I’m now focused on continuing this transition by applying my design-driven perspective to help teams prioritize effectively, build with intention, and deliver products that truly serve their users.
General Assembly
2022 – Current, Los Angeles
UX Design Lead 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!