“The world needs design more now than ever.”

Most designers want to make beautiful things.

Dan Harden wants to make meaningful ones.

From building dangerous go-karts as a kid to designing more than 1,000 products (and winning 350+ awards), Dan’s career has been a masterclass in lasting impact. As CEO and founder of Whipsaw, Dan has shaped the modern design landscape while staying grounded in what truly matters: solving real problems for real people.

In this episode of Why Design, Dan shares how he turned a passion for sketching and making into a globally respected studio, why the best designers obsess over details, and how to cultivate curiosity, clarity, and creativity over a 30+ year career.

Don’t just listen. Go beyond the podcast. Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events

What You’ll Learn 👇

🌀 Why the “why” of design matters more than ever

🪚 The discipline behind great design (and why it's more than a sketch)

🔥 How passion, grit, and inspiration fuel longevity

📐 What makes a design transcendent, not just functional

🌍 Why industrial designers must think beyond consumerism

Memorable Quotes

💬 “There are fundamentals about design that haven’t changed.”

💬 “Creativity is not a tool you turn on, it’s a way of life.”

💬 “Don't contribute to the malaise. Don’t do shitty products.”

💬 “You can be creative designing a bolt.”

💬 “Design should be gifting, not just commerce.”

Resources & Links

🧠 Connect with Dan Harden on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-harden-62389435/

🏢 Explore Whipsaw’s work:

https://www.whipsaw.com/

🎧 Listen to Prism, Dan’s podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZHZoL0hOdzZfRcgAXeuvh?si=40de5239ef2548fc

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube → youtube.com/@whydesignpod

📸 Follow on Instagram → @whydesignxkodu

🎵 TikTok → _whydesign

👥 Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events

🔗 Follow Chris Whyte on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & Amazon → whydesign.club

👉 Keep the conversation going.

Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events

📲 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube so you never miss an episode.

👥 If this resonated, share it with a friend, designer, or team leader navigating their own creative journey.

About Kodu

Why Design is produced by Kodu, a recruitment partner to ambitious hardware brands, design consultancies, and product start-ups. We help founders and teams hire top talent across industrial design, mechanical engineering, and product leadership.

🔗 Learn more → teamkodu.com