Process & Craft: How Great Design Work Happens — Dan Mall

The way you work matters as much as what you make. Constraints, collaboration, iteration, feedback aren’t obstacles to good design; they’re the method. Sharpen how you think, decide, and create.

Videos about

Videos about

Process & Craft

How to Make the Perfect Portfolio, and Four Other Cheat Codes for Job Seekers

Five specific shortcuts I’ve learned for standing out in a crowded job market, including what actually makes a portfolio memorable.

52:54

How to Make the Perfect Portfolio, and Four Other Cheat Codes for Job Seekers

Five specific shortcuts I’ve learned for standing out in a crowded job market, including what actually makes a portfolio memorable.

52:54

Modern Apprenticeship: A Model for Tech

Why apprenticeship are the best way to close the skills gap, build more inclusive teams, and create well-rounded professionals.

1:00:24

Proper Etiquette for the Advancement of Design

How to get your bosses and clients to approve your work using tools, methods, and non-traditional deliverables that make buy-in the easy part.

45:36

Replacing the Internship with Apprenticeship

Why our industry’s approach to growing new talent is broken, and the apprenticeship model I ran for seven years to fix it.

23:12

Podcasts about

Podcasts about

Process & Craft

featuring Dan Mall

featuring Dan Mall

Design To Be Conversation

Creating Boundaries and Psychological Safety

How boundaries, psychological safety, and a culture of learning can help designers take creative risks and drive better collaboration.

45:00

Design To Be Conversation

Creating Boundaries and Psychological Safety

How boundaries, psychological safety, and a culture of learning can help designers take creative risks and drive better collaboration.

45:00

Design Details

Master Yodan

Freelancing, job titles, and helping people do the best work of their lives.

1:07:02

Design Details

Master Yodan

Freelancing, job titles, and helping people do the best work of their lives.

1:07:02

Ctrl+Click Cast

Professionalism

The importance of communication and accountability and how we’ve all evolved as professionals from an employee to an owner standpoint.

1:02:09

Ctrl+Click Cast

Professionalism

The importance of communication and accountability and how we’ve all evolved as professionals from an employee to an owner standpoint.

1:02:09

One thing I love about the first round of design is that it’s often the opportunity to show my most daring ideas.

Excerpted from

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

A great Creative Director has the answer to everything, not because they’re smarter than everyone else but because they’ve spent more time thinking about all of the possible scenarios before everyone else even realized that was important.

Excerpted from

On Creative Direction

Sharing what you’re doing while you’re doing it invites others to opt-in.

Excerpted from

A Guide to Working in Public

Everyone suddenly has a strong opinion when you ask them to critique something you’ve already made.

Excerpted from

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

One thing I love about the first round of design is that it’s often the opportunity to show my most daring ideas.

Excerpted from

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

A great Creative Director has the answer to everything, not because they’re smarter than everyone else but because they’ve spent more time thinking about all of the possible scenarios before everyone else even realized that was important.

Excerpted from

On Creative Direction

Sharing what you’re doing while you’re doing it invites others to opt-in.

Excerpted from

A Guide to Working in Public

Everyone suddenly has a strong opinion when you ask them to critique something you’ve already made.

Excerpted from

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

One thing I love about the first round of design is that it’s often the opportunity to show my most daring ideas.

Excerpted from

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

A great Creative Director has the answer to everything, not because they’re smarter than everyone else but because they’ve spent more time thinking about all of the possible scenarios before everyone else even realized that was important.

Excerpted from

On Creative Direction

Sharing what you’re doing while you’re doing it invites others to opt-in.

Excerpted from

A Guide to Working in Public

Everyone suddenly has a strong opinion when you ask them to critique something you’ve already made.

Excerpted from

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

All articles about

Process & Craft

1

A Guide to Working in Public

A Guide to Working in Public

A Guide to Working in Public

1

2

Where Do You Find the Time?

Where Do You Find the Time?

Where Do You Find the Time?

2

3

Race the Vain Crow

Race the Vain Crow

Race the Vain Crow

3

4

Difficulty as a Moat

Difficulty as a Moat

Difficulty as a Moat

4

5

This Competition Exposed How AI is Reshaping Design

This Competition Exposed How AI is Reshaping Design

This Competition Exposed How AI is Reshaping Design

5

6

The File Folder Structure Every Designer Needs

The File Folder Structure Every Designer Needs

The File Folder Structure Every Designer Needs

6

7

How Did You Pick That Typeface?

How Did You Pick That Typeface?

How Did You Pick That Typeface?

7

8

What Should I Work On?

What Should I Work On?

What Should I Work On?

8

9

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Three?

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Three?

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Three?

9

10

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

Replacing a 9-Figure Company’s Corporate Typeface

10

11

How I Choose Typefaces

How I Choose Typefaces

How I Choose Typefaces

11

12

Math: A Great Design Tool

Math: A Great Design Tool

Math: A Great Design Tool

12

13

Creating Portfolio Pieces

Creating Portfolio Pieces

Creating Portfolio Pieces

13

14

How Long Does It Take to Design a Landing Page?

How Long Does It Take to Design a Landing Page?

How Long Does It Take to Design a Landing Page?

14

15

Does Web Design Matter?

Does Web Design Matter?

Does Web Design Matter?

15

16

A Case Study: Building an Accounting Brand & Website

A Case Study: Building an Accounting Brand & Website

A Case Study: Building an Accounting Brand & Website

16

17

Mastering Manual and Mundane Work

Mastering Manual and Mundane Work

Mastering Manual and Mundane Work

17

18

Artificial Intelligence & Humanity

Artificial Intelligence & Humanity

Artificial Intelligence & Humanity

18

19

Deliver Value Every Week

Deliver Value Every Week

Deliver Value Every Week

19

20

Designing a Landing Page In 30 Minutes For $10k

Designing a Landing Page In 30 Minutes For $10k

Designing a Landing Page In 30 Minutes For $10k

20

21

The Danger of “Whaddya Think?”

The Danger of “Whaddya Think?”

The Danger of “Whaddya Think?”

21

22

Three Times is a Pattern

Three Times is a Pattern

Three Times is a Pattern

22

23

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

It’s Easier to Revise than Create

23

24

Building Momentum

Building Momentum

Building Momentum

24

25

A Syllabus for Web Design & Web Development Apprenticeships

A Syllabus for Web Design & Web Development Apprenticeships

A Syllabus for Web Design & Web Development Apprenticeships

25

26

The Hot Potato Process

The Hot Potato Process

The Hot Potato Process

26

27

Communication Arts Interactive 2020

Communication Arts Interactive 2020

Communication Arts Interactive 2020

27

28

A Portfolio Hiring Managers Can’t Deny

A Portfolio Hiring Managers Can’t Deny

A Portfolio Hiring Managers Can’t Deny

28

29

Designer + Developer Workflow

Designer + Developer Workflow

Designer + Developer Workflow

29

30

Stealing Your Way to Original Designs

Stealing Your Way to Original Designs

Stealing Your Way to Original Designs

30

31

On Creative Direction

On Creative Direction

On Creative Direction

31

Books about

Books about

Process & Craft

I recommend

I recommend

All links are affiliate links.

All links are affiliate links.

All links are affiliate links.

Anthony Bourdain pulls back the curtain on the chaos, knives, and questionable behavior that happen before your food hits the table.

The system for capturing your best ideas so your brain can finally stop trying to remember everything and start doing more with it.

The definitive answer to what art directors actually do all day, finally written by two people who actually know.

Matthew McConaughey’s rambling, surprising memoir about chasing life hard enough that even the red lights start looking like gifts.

The book that names the invisible force killing your creative work and shows you how to show up anyway.

A plain-language guide to untangling information chaos and the rare skill of making complex things clear to anyone.

The book that tells creative firms to stop begging for work and start positioning themselves as the only logical choice.

How the rules of improv comedy turn out to be the best life advice you never knew you needed.

A hilarious, honest, and deeply human guide to writing and to getting out of your own way.

How the team behind Basecamp ditched sprints and deadlines to build software on their own terms and actually ship.

A crash course in shipping real software fast without the chaos, excuses, or endless planning.

Stop letting your inbox run your life and finally make room for the work that actually matters.

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan Mall

Dan is an educator, mentor, and most importantly, a friend. He is a leader who helps others realize their superpowers and deliver their best work, all while showing how to enjoy the ride. The things I’ve learned from him will forever be key parts of my DNA as a designer.

Julia Fernandez

,

Senior Product Designer

,

Meta

There are few designers that can capture a brand’s essence and deliver a design that takes that brand to a new level. Dan did that at the pitch meeting.

Rob Walker

,

Former Manager, Digital Marketing & Mobile Product Development

,

Crayola

Dan’s attention to detail and lusciously rich arsenal of knowledge in both design and code make him an amazing collaborator and leader. He is a great teacher, mentor, friend, and a genuinely exceptional human being.

Benjamin Bojko

,

Creative Tech Director

Dan has one of the best minds for design in our industry, but he takes it so much further in his unparalleled grace and his seamless collaboration.

Mike Kenny

,

Director, Experience Design

,

Justworks

Dan has vision and is able to see the potential in anything he touches. He never stops thinking about what can be done better, which leads to fresh, smart, and original work.

Sabah Kosoy

,

Staff UX Program Manager, Bard

,

Google

Dan Mall

Dan is an educator, mentor, and most importantly, a friend. He is a leader who helps others realize their superpowers and deliver their best work, all while showing how to enjoy the ride. The things I’ve learned from him will forever be key parts of my DNA as a designer.

Julia Fernandez

,

Senior Product Designer

,

Meta

There are few designers that can capture a brand’s essence and deliver a design that takes that brand to a new level. Dan did that at the pitch meeting.

Rob Walker

,

Former Manager, Digital Marketing & Mobile Product Development

,

Crayola

Dan’s attention to detail and lusciously rich arsenal of knowledge in both design and code make him an amazing collaborator and leader. He is a great teacher, mentor, friend, and a genuinely exceptional human being.

Benjamin Bojko

,

Creative Tech Director

Dan has one of the best minds for design in our industry, but he takes it so much further in his unparalleled grace and his seamless collaboration.

Mike Kenny

,

Director, Experience Design

,

Justworks

Dan has vision and is able to see the potential in anything he touches. He never stops thinking about what can be done better, which leads to fresh, smart, and original work.

Sabah Kosoy

,

Staff UX Program Manager, Bard

,

Google

Dan Mall

Dan is an educator, mentor, and most importantly, a friend. He is a leader who helps others realize their superpowers and deliver their best work, all while showing how to enjoy the ride. The things I’ve learned from him will forever be key parts of my DNA as a designer.

Julia Fernandez

,

Senior Product Designer

,

Meta

There are few designers that can capture a brand’s essence and deliver a design that takes that brand to a new level. Dan did that at the pitch meeting.

Rob Walker

,

Former Manager, Digital Marketing & Mobile Product Development

,

Crayola

Dan’s attention to detail and lusciously rich arsenal of knowledge in both design and code make him an amazing collaborator and leader. He is a great teacher, mentor, friend, and a genuinely exceptional human being.

Benjamin Bojko

,

Creative Tech Director

Dan has one of the best minds for design in our industry, but he takes it so much further in his unparalleled grace and his seamless collaboration.

Mike Kenny

,

Director, Experience Design

,

Justworks

Dan has vision and is able to see the potential in anything he touches. He never stops thinking about what can be done better, which leads to fresh, smart, and original work.

Sabah Kosoy

,

Staff UX Program Manager, Bard

,

Google

Dan Mall

Helping designers get their flowers.

45,601 followers

•

15,979 connections

45,100 followers

@danmallteaches

6,458 subscribers

•

79 videos

@danmallteaches

6,296 followers

•

221 posts

This site is typeset in Bueno by Rajesh Rajput, Thermal by Reset Type Studio, Mark by Hannes von Döhren and Christoph Koeberlin, Manteca by Emyself Design, and Inter by Rasmus Andersson.

This is version 6.0.2 of my personal website. Older versions: v5, v4, v3, v2 (no longer online), v1 (no longer online).

Black lives matter.

© Dan Mall Teaches 2005–2026. All rights reserved.

Made proudly in Philly. Thou shalt not steal—but feel free to remix.

Privacy policy.

Dan Mall

Helping designers get their flowers.

45,601 followers

•

15,979 connections

45,100 followers

@danmallteaches

6,458 subscribers

•

79 videos

@danmallteaches

6,296 followers

•

221 posts

This site is typeset in Bueno by Rajesh Rajput, Thermal by Reset Type Studio, Mark by Hannes von Döhren and Christoph Koeberlin, Manteca by Emyself Design, and Inter by Rasmus Andersson.

This is version 6.0.2 of my personal website. Older versions: v5, v4, v3, v2 (no longer online), v1 (no longer online).

Black lives matter.

© Dan Mall Teaches 2005–2026. All rights reserved.

Made proudly in Philly. Thou shalt not steal—but feel free to remix.

Privacy policy.

Dan Mall

Helping designers get their flowers.

45,601 followers

•

15,979 connections

45,100 followers

@danmallteaches

6,458 subscribers

•

79 videos

@danmallteaches

6,296 followers

•

221 posts

This site is typeset in Bueno by Rajesh Rajput, Thermal by Reset Type Studio, Mark by Hannes von Döhren and Christoph Koeberlin, Manteca by Emyself Design, and Inter by Rasmus Andersson.

This is version 6.0.2 of my personal website. Older versions: v5, v4, v3, v2 (no longer online), v1 (no longer online).

Black lives matter.

© Dan Mall Teaches 2005–2026. All rights reserved.

Made proudly in Philly. Thou shalt not steal—but feel free to remix.

Privacy policy.

Dan Mall