About Me

Dane O'Leary

Dane is a Creative/Design Director and UX/UI Specialist with over 15 years of experience in branding, product design, and crafting user-centered digital experiences.
Tap my face for a random fact.
Dane O'Leary's professional headshot | Dane O'Leary Media

Origin Story

Initially exploring a career in archaeology after grad school, Dane continued to be drawn to design where he could combine his analytical mindset with his deep creativity. His background in the sciences gives him a unique, systems-focused approach to design, allowing him to blend creativity with data-driven decision-making.

Dane is a human-centered designer who operates within an agile framework. His process begins with a deep understanding of user needs that allows him to produce digital experiences that are both functional and enjoyable. Approaching design as a system of interconnected elements, his process produces intuitive designs capable of solving users’ problems while also promoting relevant business goals.

A milestone project in his portfolio is the Never Alone Recovery appInfo Icon for which Dane was the driving force behind the app’s design and core features, including an accountability tool enabling users to track their progress. His work on this project highlights his ability to produce empathetic designs that drive KPIs.

Storytelling has a critical role in Dane’s designs. By crafting emotionally resonant narratives, he propels engagement and brand recognition, leveraging emerging tools like generative AI to help streamline workflows and allow him to produce even more potent branding and more powerful experiences.

Dane isn’t solely a creator—he’s also a capable creative leader. Dane’s “structured freedom” style of leadership empowers his team to take bold creative swings by providing clear boundaries within which they can take the sorts of ambitious risks that drive exceptional results. In short, he aims to maintain an environment of innovation that cultivates creative problem-solving and continuous learning.

Dane’s expansive and ever-growing toolkit—from essential Adobe design programs to digital whiteboarding tools like Mural—promotes efficiency and consistency across his design projectsRight Arrow Icon . (It also enables him to hit the ground running on almost any type of design project.)

Outside of design, Dane likes learning about physics and cosmology, and he religiously tracks the box office each week. As shown through his work, he continues to be a staunch advocate for education and mental health.

Dane’s work has been recognized by industry organizations like AIGA and the Association of Illustrators.

Clifton Strengths

Developed by Gallup, the CliftonStrengths assessment identifies a person’s unique strengths from 34 talent ‘themes’ divided between four categories, or “domains”: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking.

Individualization
Relationship Building

People exceptionally talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how different people can work together productively.

Learner
Strategic Thinking

People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

Analytical
Strategic Thinking

People exceptionally talented in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all of the factors that might affect a situation.

Intellection
Strategic Thinking

People exceptionally talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

Maximizer
Influencing

People exceptionally talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

Enneagram Personality Test

Within the Enneagram framework, nine distinct personality types offer a unique lens through which individuals perceive the world and act upon their motivations.

Type 1
"The Perfectionist"

Idealistic and conscientious, and rooted in a strong sense of right and wrong, Type One prioritizes doing things “right” with discipline and determination, forfeiting instant gratification in favor of greater gains down the road. They excel at optimization and streamlining, but they may have difficulty with relaxation and accepting imperfections.

Strengths

Organized, efficient, hardworking, encourages the growth of others, values fairness, morally driven, independent

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) classifies every individual according to four dichotomies:

  • Extraversion versus introversion
  • Sensing versus intuition
  • Thinking versus feeling
  • Judging versus perceiving
INTJ-A
"The Architect"

According to data, INTJs are “one of the rarest — and one of the most capable — personality types,” characterized as applying both creativity and rationality to everything they do.

Architects pride themselves on their curiosity and intellectual individuality. They’ve also got a knack for knowing when someone is being disingenuous.

However, Architects are prone to getting impatient with those who need (or prefer to take) more time.

Gemini... in the Workplace?

The dual-natured Gemini is versatile and adaptable, inherently curious with a thirst for learning. Likely to pick up on connections that others miss, Gemini brings innovative, outside-the-box thinking into the workplace.

Sociable in nature, Gemini builds rapport easily, which makes them great collaborators as well as highly effective at industry events.

Gemini injects creativity into every project, staying flexible without losing focus. This makes Gemini ideal for roles that require multi-tasking, negotiation, and managing simultaneous projects.

Testimonials
What Clients & Colleagues Say
"Dane drives the creative process with impactful solutions and unique strategies, and has a vision for details while hitting key deadlines and managing multiple projects at once."
Nick Phillips
LG Electronics
"He stays one step ahead and seems to know what is needed before the company even realizes it. You can feel how passionate he is about his work and he takes it seriously."
Jacki Peterson
Alan + Company
"Dane is creative, dependable, and easy to work with. In addition to coming up with his own ideas, he takes direction well and can run with any suggestions we send him.

Highly recommended!"
David Condos
NPR
"Dane and I have worked together on a number of projects and I have only good things to say about him. His research is thorough and he powers through many iterations of content with me—even when [stakeholder changes require] more time than I hired him for."
Andy Bowen
TheGritGroup
"Dane's professional attitude and strong communication skills make working with him a breeze and a pleasure. I would recommend Dane to any team looking for a motivated, intelligent creator."
Devon Rhodes
Fleet Readiness Center
"Dane was an excellent addition to our team with insightful pitches and intelligent ideas. Our company's success was contingent upon creators like Dane. I would highly recommend him to any team."
Anna McKenzie
Creative Demand, LLC