Dan Chalklin
Talent Partner, Design
Dan Chalklin is a startup design recruiter specializing in product design and design leadership roles at The Search Experience. With over a decade in design recruitment, he partners with founders to scale creative teams that shape intuitive, high-impact products. From Chief Design Officers to senior ICs, Dan helps Seed–Series C startups hire the talent that drives usability, growth, and design maturity.

Meet Dan
Dan has spent more than a decade recruiting design talent across startups, creative agencies, and global technology companies. Having lived and worked in both New York and San Francisco, he has built design teams in some of the world's most competitive hiring markets, partnering with founders and hiring leaders through every stage of growth.
Before joining The Search Experience, Dan recruited with both boutique and global search firms, giving him broad exposure to how design organisations evolve from a company's first designer through to established, multi-disciplinary teams.
His career began in hospitality, where he developed the communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills that continue to shape his approach today. Those early experiences taught him that successful hiring starts with understanding people, earning trust, and creating long-term relationships.
Focus: Design
Dan specializes in building design and design-adjacent teams for early and growth-stage technology startups. His focus areas include:
Product design and design systems
Design engineering and UX/UI specialists
Heads, Directors, and VPs of Design
Foundational design hires for Seed-stage startups
He works most often with technical or product-led founders in SaaS, DevTools, AI, and cloud infrastructure, helping them define what "good design" means for their stage and build scalable design teams from the ground up.

Working with Dan
Dan is thoughtful, approachable, and straightforward in the way he works with founders. He asks the questions others often skip, takes time to understand the product and business before discussing candidates, and isn't afraid to challenge assumptions when he believes there's a better hiring strategy. Clients value his honesty as much as his market knowledge, knowing they'll receive candid advice rather than simply being told what they want to hear.
He builds genuine relationships with both founders and designers, creating trust on both sides of the hiring process. Designers appreciate that he understands their craft and can have meaningful conversations about product, design systems, collaboration, and career progression. Founders value his ability to translate those conversations into clear hiring recommendations that align with the company's stage, product, and long-term ambitions.
Throughout the search, Dan is communicative, responsive, and highly collaborative. He represents every company with professionalism and care, keeps founders informed at each stage, and focuses on building long-term partnerships rather than completing individual placements. His goal is simple: to make every hiring decision feel informed, considered, and built for the future of the business.
Head of Operations, AI Productivity, Seed
"Dan is a thoughtful recruiting partner who understood the caliber of talent we were looking for and maintained a positive, steady approach throughout. I'd gladly work with him again."
Chief of Design, Cloud Data & Cybersecurity
"I worked with Dan on several design roles and was consistently impressed by the quality of candidates he presented. His attention to detail and strong understanding of the design industry saved us significant time and made the process smooth and efficient. Professional, approachable, and highly reliable. I'd recommend Dan to anyone hiring design talent."
Partner, Management Consulting
"Dan has been an excellent partner in finding exceptional full-time and contract talent. He brings a deep network, takes the time to truly understand all parties, and consistently delivers strong, long-term fits. A genuine listener with a strong work ethic - it's a pleasure to work with Dan."
Beyond the Search
Outside of recruitment, Dan is passionate about lifting weights, cooking (especially Thai curries and seafood linguine), and enjoying quality time with his wife. A lifelong car enthusiast, he brings the same mix of precision and drive to his work.
Known for his curiosity, tenacity, and sense of humour, Dan builds genuine relationships with founders. His EQ-driven style helps him uncover what teams really need, not just what's on the job description.
FAQs
What types of design roles does Dan specialize in?
Product design, design engineering, UX/UI, and senior design leadership (Head, Director, VP of Design).
What experience does Dan bring to startup hiring?
Over a decade of experience hiring design talent across agencies, global enterprises, and VC-backed startups in the US and UK.
How does Dan support founders building their first design team?
By advising on role scope, design maturity, and hiring strategy, helping founders understand the talent needed to scale their product experience.
What's unique about Dan's approach to recruitment?
He applies human-centered design principles to hiring, focusing on the person behind the portfolio and ensuring cultural and creative alignment.
How can I connect with Dan about a search?
Reach out via our contact form or connect with Dan directly on LinkedIn.