dan whelan

Your work is good.
But decisions move on without you.

You walk your designs through with stakeholders but without talk of risks, revenue or outcomes, it's harder to make the room care.

It’s a skill gap, not talent - and it’s fixable

• Show me where I'm stuck

I'm Dan Whelan

Top 10 UX Design Mentor - ADPList Q1 2026

I’ve spent 20 years watching strong design work fail to land.Not because the work wasn’t good. Because the designer couldn’t make the room care.I’ve hired designers, led them, and sat on the other side of the table when decisions got made without them in the room. I know what separates the designers who get heard from the ones who don’t, and it’s rarely about craft.I write and coach on the specific shifts that help senior designers earn executive trust, not by becoming less of a designer, but by learning to speak the language decisions are made in.

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"Dan shared some really valuable insights, and I really appreciated how transparent and honest she was. It made the advice feel practical and something I can actually use."

Kristoffer Warholm, UX Lead, Visma

"Dan was amazing at giving me a comprehensive review of my portfolio and revealing aspects of the hiring manager’s POV that I hadn’t considered.I loved that our session started with setting an intention for the review, as it made the process really effective, and I’ll definitely be reaching out again for more help!"

Shreya Sharma, Product Designer

"Dan provided clear and practical insights into how to approach interview questions, especially around understanding the intent behind behavioural questions.Her guidance was thoughtful, practical, and genuinely supportive. I would highly recommend Daniela to anyone looking for mentorship in product design."

Selene L., Senior UX Consultant