Web App · 2024
Lumen Analytics
A calmer way to read product metrics. We rebuilt the information architecture and shipped a focused dashboard that cut time-to-insight in half.
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I'm Daniel Mercer, a product designer & developer building delightful digital experiences.
For nearly a decade I've helped startups and studios ship interfaces that are as dependable as they are beautiful — from first sketch to final pixel.
Trusted by forward-thinking teams and studios
About Me
A short story, and a few numbers that sum up the journey
I'm a multidisciplinary product designer and front-end developer based in Austin, Texas. I help founders turn rough ideas into refined, usable products — pairing research-driven design decisions with clean, accessible code. When I'm not pushing pixels you'll find me sketching type, mentoring juniors, or chasing good coffee.
+
Years Experience
+
Projects Shipped
Happy Clients
Awards Won
What I Do
A focused set of services, delivered end to end
Skills & Tools
The craft and software I reach for every day
A blend of design taste and engineering rigor.
I move comfortably between the canvas and the codebase, which means designs stay faithful from concept to production. Here's where I spend most of my time.
Interface Design 95%
Front-End Development 90%
Design Systems 88%
Prototyping & Motion 82%
Brand & Visual Identity 78%
Experience
The roles and milestones that shaped how I work today
Work
2021 — Present
Senior Product Designer
Lumen Inc. · RemoteLead designer on the analytics platform, owning everything from research to shipped UI and the design system that supports it.
2018 — 2021
Product Designer & Front-End
Northwind Studio · AustinDesigned and built marketing sites and web apps for early-stage startups, bridging design and engineering on small teams.
2016 — 2018
UI Designer
Atlas Agency · AustinCrafted interfaces and brand systems for agency clients across fintech, health, and consumer products.
Education & Awards
2012 — 2016
BFA, Communication Design
University of Texas · AustinGraduated with honors. Focused on typography, interaction design, and the craft of building usable systems.
2022
Awwwards — Site of the Day
Lumen AnalyticsRecognized for design excellence and accessibility on a complex data product.
2020
CSS Design Awards — Winner
Marrow CoffeeHonored for a bold, cohesive brand and e-commerce experience.
Selected Work
A closer look at a few projects and the impact they made
Mobile App · 2023
Pace Fitness
An iOS coaching app designed around real gestures and motivation. Daily active users doubled within three months of launch.
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Branding · 2023
Marrow Coffee
A full identity system for a specialty roaster — logo, packaging, and a warm visual language that scaled across every touchpoint.
View case studyKind Words
A few notes from people I've had the joy of working with
Daniel translated a vague idea into a product our users adore. The detail in both design and code was outstanding.
Elena RossFounder, Lumen
Rare to find someone equally strong in design and engineering. Deadlines met, communication clear, result above expectations.
Marcus HalePM, Northwind
Our design system was a mess before Daniel. He brought order and consistency that let the whole team move twice as fast.
Priya NairDesign Lead, Atlas
How I Work
A simple, collaborative process that keeps projects on track
01
Discover
We dig into your goals, users, and constraints so we're solving the right problem from day one.
02
Design
Wireframes evolve into polished, interactive designs — reviewed together at every milestone.
03
Build
Designs become accessible, performant front-end code with no fidelity lost in handoff.
04
Launch
We ship, measure, and refine — with support through release and beyond.
Let's work together
Ready to bring your next idea to life?
I have room for one or two new projects this quarter. If you're building something you care about, I'd love to hear about it.
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