In this episode of The UX Consulting Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with longtime friend and industry leader Dan Brown to explore the evolution of his consulting journey—from co-founding the beloved UX agency EightShapes to launching his solo consultancy, Curious Squid.
Together, they dive into:
The origin story and 18-year legacy of EightShapes
Why Dan and his co-founder Nathan Curtis ultimately decided to close the agency
The emotional and operational realities of hiring employees as a small consultancy
How Dan approached building Curious Squid, his new independent consultancy
The mindset shift from running a team to going solo
Writing as a way of thinking (and how Dan keeps up such a prolific publishing pace)
Why he launched a new podcast—Unchecked: The Architecture of Disinformation—and how it aligns with his professional mission
The marketing tactics that are actually working for him as an independent consultant
Dan also shares thoughtful reflections on:
The power of staying top-of-mind through relationship-building
What makes a good consultant (spoiler: it starts with listening)
Why authenticity is non-negotiable, even when running your own business
His best advice for those considering growth, hiring, and long-term sustainability
Whether you're running your own consultancy or thinking about taking the leap, this conversation is packed with relatable stories and hard-earned wisdom.
Notable Quotes: “It is terrifying. It’s 100% terrifying.” – Dan, on the decision to take on full-time employees at EightShapes
“Some of the best design work I did was designing EightShapes itself.” - Dan, on designing company culture
Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.
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