Dan Harden in

Dan Harden

Cheerleader · DISC type Is
CEO, Principal Designer at WHIPSAW
📍 San Francisco, California, United States

Dan Harden is the Founder, CEO, and Principal Designer of WHIPSAW, where he directs the creative vision for clients like Google, Nike, and Sony. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he is a prolific inventor with over 600 patents. He previously served as President of frog, working with luminaries like Steve Jobs.

Dan’s design philosophy is deeply influenced by his passion for art, culture, and psychology. He believes in creating products that are not only functional and beautiful but also establish a profound emotional connection with the user. He is also a practitioner and teacher of the martial art Aikido.

Interesting fact: Fast Company has called Dan “design’s secret weapon” and recognized him as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business.

Read the full overview →
Experience
43 Years
Current Role
CEO, Principal Designer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Personality Overview

How Dan shows up

Cheerful
Affable
Listener

They are more likely to opt for solutions that are proven in the market. Scenarios where both sides can come out as winners appeal to them greatly. Unlike D or C types, they are calm as well as friendly and can give the impression of being more receptive than they actually are.

Priorities

Topics Dan cares about

Design's Social Impact
Believes that the ultimate goal of design is to make a positive impact on the world and profoundly connect with users on both a rational and emotional level.
Design Entrepreneurship
Founded WHIPSAW in 1999 and has grown it into one of the world's most acclaimed design agencies, shipping over 1, 000 products.
+5 more topics Login to view topics
Career

Work history

6-1999
CEO, Principal Designer
WHIPSAW
9-1989 - 6-1999
President / VP Design
frog
4-1983 - 8-1989
Project Director / Industrial Designer
Henry Dreyfuss Associates
6-1981 - 1-1982
Industrial Design Intern
George Nelson Associates
Industrial Design Intern
HP
In the press

Media appearances

Dan Harden | Whipsaw. Featured in Whipsaw (official website)
See now
The Power of Good Design: Dan Harden's Journey to Creating Timeless and Impactful Products. Featured in Whipsaw Blog
+7 more appearances Login to view media
Education
1977 - 1982
BSID
University of Cincinnati
Education details unavailable
Walnut Hills High School
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

I

Influence (I)

Influence (I) reflects the degree to which a person prefers to work by influencing or persuading others. Those scoring high tend to be people oriented, motivated by social recognition and building relationships.

More profiles

Discover additional public profiles from our index.

Unlock the full playbookSee exactly how to sell to Dan. Free, 10 seconds.