66. The Continuous Evolution of a Designer with Dan Mall

What truly separates successful junior designers from the rest?

Today, we chat with Dan Mall, a veteran design leader, and someone you may think of when you think about Design Systems. But Dan’s story starts much like many of ours— as a junior designer, eager to make his mark. Dan shares some insights for junior designers that he wishes he would have received when he was younger.

One of the key takeaways from our conversation is the importance of advocacy and networking within your organization. Dan stresses that it’s not just about the work you do but also about how you communicate its value and find allies who will champion your ideas. This internal networking is crucial for making your contributions known and appreciated.

Dan also touches upon the delicate balance between ego and collaboration. He stresses the importance of focusing on the impact of ideas rather than looking for credit. This is a mindset that fosters teamwork and leads to more significant achievements.

We dig into a whole lot more like AI and how much Dan appreciates a good 1ply toilet paper.

This episode is packed with nuggets of wisdom for not just junior designers, but anyone looking to navigate their career with intention and vision. Don’t miss it!

Topics:
• 05:13 – Dan was once a junior designer too.
• 06:49 – Niching down vs being a generalist
• 10:00 – We’re more than just our specific title
• 13:26 – Your team can help you get ahead in low-maturity environments
• 19:13 – How do we distinguish between ideas and action
• 22:47 – Find allies, sponsors, and advocates by networking internally
• 26:42 – Bosses aren’t always trained to be a good boss.
• 42:12 – What do junior designers need to know about AI?

Helpful Links:
• danmall.com
• Buy Design That Scales
• Great Job!
• Design System University
• Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
• Follow Dan on Twitter
• Follow Dan on Instagram

Dan Mall
Husband, dad, teacher, creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur

About Dan

Dan Mall is a husband, dad, teacher, creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur from Philly. He runs Design System University, where he creates, collects, and curates curriculum, content, and community to help enterprise teams design at scale. He also co-founded Great Job!, a platform that helps parents and caregivers design their own handbook for raising amazing kids. Previously, Dan ran design system consultancy SuperFriendly for over a decade. Dan writes about design systems, process, and leadership and other issues on his site danmall.com, in his weekly newsletter, and on Twitter and Instagram.

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

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