After graduating from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Bombay, Dean joined architect Gerard Da Cunha as an assistant in Goa in 1985. In 1986 he became a partner in a firm called Natural Architecture, working on cost effective housing in a very Laurie Baker approach using waste building materials and innovative design. He later expanded base of design work, taking on small hotels, large houses and institutional work as principal architect of Dean D'Cruz & Associates. In 2001 he co-founded Mozaic, with general collaboration between disciplines as the core ethic. Having been part of the State Level Committee for the making of the Regional Plan 2021 for Goa, his current emphasis is on urban interventions, sustainable principles and conservation.