Dan Harrelson is a design technologist at Adaptive Path. He brings a unique understanding of both design and development, allowing him to help clients realize their product's full potential. He has an extensive background in programming, systems analysis, and product design.
Dan brings the experience of a developer to the Adaptive Path design process. When defining concepts for our clients the perspective of a technologist can bring in new ideas and can also vet ideas for feasibility. He often helps to bridge the gap between our design team and client's development team. Lastly, the building of prototypes is something Dan strongly believes can help a design process and he brings rapid prototyping techniques to our client engagements.
Mobile devices, consumer electronics, self-service kiosks, web sites and web applications are all mediums in which Dan has applied his design and development expertise.
Dan is also an avid road cyclist and new dad.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Adaptive Path, Dan was the Director of Technology at Extractable where he oversaw the technical aspects of all client projects as well as developing front-end applications and back-end management tools. He was also a senior web developer for Cable & Wireless, designing and overseeing much of the development of the international telecom's corporate web site as well as a web developer for Nortel Networks.
Dan is an advocate for the use of technology in UX design, writing and speaking on the topic often. He enjoys bringing the message of user centered design to audiences of developers. Past appearances include UX Intensive, UX Week, MIX and Agile '08. His professional interests include prototyping, agile methodology, mobile, web and desktop apps.
Past clients include Indigo, Mozilla, Ashoka Changemakers, Vanguard, UCSF, Charles Schwab, EA, Vivendi, FedEx, Sun, Visa, and SanDisk.
He is a member of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA).
Dan graduated with a bachelor's in Graphic Communication from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo.
Upcoming Appearances
March 7-8
Dan Harrelson will be attending MX: Managing Experience in San Francisco.
April 5-7
Dan Harrelson will be attending An Event Apart in Seattle.
Past Appearances
April 2-3
Dan Harrelson presented at Good Design Faster in San Francisco.
March 18-20
Dan Harrelson presented at MIX '09 in Las Vegas, NV.
February 5-8
Dan Harrelson attended Interaction 09 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
August 12 - 15
Dan Harrelson presented at UX Week in San Francisco, CA
August 4 - 8
Dan Harrelson presented at Agile2008 in Toronto, Canada
April 22 - 25
Dan Harelson attended Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, CA
April 20 - 22
Dan Harrelson attended MX in San Francisco, CA
March 7 - 11
Dan Harrelson attended SXSW in Austin, TX.
March 5 - 7
Dan Harrelson presented at MIX08 in Las Vegas, NV.
Feb 19 - 22
Dan Harrelson presented at UXI in San Francisco, CA
September 6-8, 2007
Dan Harrelson attended Rich Web Experience in San Jose, CA.
The Adaptive Path Team
- Alexa Andrzejewski
Interaction Designer - Analisa Lono
Events Coordinator - Andrew Crow
Senior Experience Designer - Brandon Schauer
Experience Design Director - Brian Cronin
Project Manager - Chiara Fox
Senior Information Architect - Christian Palino
Design Strategist - Chula Carlson
Controller - Dan Harrelson
Design Technologist - Gina Crescenti
Client Relations Associate - Henning Fischer
Design Strategist - Jared Cole
Design Strategist & Interaction Designer - Jennifer Bolduc
Human Resources Director - Jesse James Garrett
President - Julia Houck-Whitaker
R&D Manager - Ix
Experience Designer - Kate Rutter
Senior Practitioner - Kim Cullen
Visual Designer - Laura Kirkwood-Datta
Vice President of Professional Services - Leah Buley
Experience Designer - Michael Meyer
CEO - Nancy Markiet
Facilities Coordinator - Pam Daghlian
Event Manager - Patricia Merino Price
Client Relations Manager - Paula Wellings
Experience Designer - Peter Merholz
President - Rachel Brune
Project Manager - Rachel Glaves
Experience Designer - Tamara Wayland
Client Relations Manager - Teresa Brazen
Project Manager - Todd Elliott
Project Manager - Todd Wilkens
Design Researcher & Manager, Austin Office - Trina Hancock
Visual Designer
Board Members
Emeritus
- Dan Saffer
- David Verba
- Janice Fraser
- Jeffrey Veen
- Indi Young
- Lane Becker
- Mike Kuniavsky
- Rachel Hinman
- Ryan Freitas
- Sarah B. Nelson
Where do great ideas come from?
At Adaptive Path, our ideas are driven by the work we do. We do consulting for user interface and user experience design, and offer conferences, training and education for UX designers.
From field ethnography, UI wireframes and task flows, to visual design and implementation, we do it and we teach it.
Learn more in our video, Adaptive Path in 2 ½ Minutes:
Want to know more about Adaptive Path? You should read more about our services or contact us to find out how we can help you!

