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Dan Mall
Creating intentionality, choice, and leverage in fractional work
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. 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.
In this episode
We talk about Dan’s network-based model for Superfriendly, creating leveling and growth paths for freelancers, intentionality behind your freelance work lifestyle, his top two tips for new freelancers, figuring out what he wants as he continues his fractional journey, the commodification of designers in the advent of AI, figuring out your value, and a lot more.
Outline & Transcript
“Work happens to you” vs. Intentionality
What is Fractional?
Who is Dan Mall?
Topics Overview
Dan introduces himself
What is SuperFriendly?
Dan’s superpower: Being a connector of people
Daily networking habit
I believe freelancers can simultaneously…
The dichotomy of freelancing vs. working in a team
Aligning incentives
Matching opportunities to what people are good at
How did Dan get where he is? What were his beliefs?
Mental health as a 9-5 freelancer???
The general zeitgeist = reaction mode
I want the power dynamic to be in favor of the service provider
I would rather ____ than sacrifice time with family
How do you get to a position of privilege as a freelancer?
One great thing anyone can do at any stage in their career
No one can invalidate your journey
Creating runway in order to do what I really want to do
Shutting down SuperFriendly
Dan’s new thing: Design System University
Different people learn in different ways
The Frequency Illusion Effect
What are ways I can teach people in a more accessible way?
What are you learning about yourself?
95% intrinsic motivation, 5% extrinsic motivation
Wallpapers for my phone that say, “Are you having fun?”
If you can’t even answer what you want…
Facing your own reality
Will AI replace our jobs?
How AI works into design systems
Craft vs. Commodity
The hope despite commoditization
ChatGPT lies
ChatGPT is a remix machine
Before you take away a job, figure out the replacement first
AI will design for us. What do we do then?
I’m seeking fun
Message to freelancers and independent workers
You’re not cheaper as a freelancer. You’re more valuable.
Your value is so much more than “cheaper”
