MARC O’BRIEN
Fractional Strategic Designer & Creative Director
Building new industries and social movements for a just transition
Since 2016, I’ve been determined to make climate work look good, sound awesome, be seen, and get needed support.
TL;DR
+ Co-founded and ran a successful climate design studio for 7 years
+ Built Climate Designers, a global climate design community of 5,000+ members in 5 continents
+ Helped climate tech startups secure over $30M in funding
+ Co-produced over 100 projects that addresses LA County’s sustainability plan
+ Created a climate design course for California College of the Arts and Terra.do
+ Developed strategies that grew AirMiners to 10,000+ newsletter subscribers and members
+ Gave numerous talks and interviews covering design and climate action
FEATURED PROJECT
Maybe it's possible to organize designers into the most powerful force for climate action in the creative economy
What if designers leveraged their influence over culture and consumption to drive massive behavioral change?
BRAND
BUILDING
Amplifying nascent climate industries to become widespread and adopted
The important climate work is just on the horizon
EVs, solar, wind are already here. I look the other way, building brands focused on regenerative solutions and approaches so that people fund, work for, and support these efforts.
COLLECTIVE
ACTION
Helping organizations rally their people to build a regenerative future
Systems change along with culture and paradigm shifts are key to creating a thriving world
We need a level of movement building never seen before, which has the potential of opening up our collective consciences to reveal our interconnectedness to nature, each other, and ourselves.
DESIGN STUDIO PARTNERSHIP
Supporting designers to put climate at the core of their work
A designer’s skills are needed by frontline climate entrepreneurs, advocates, and activists
I help design studios become aware of the power and responsibility they have in making climate-forward design decisions.
Areas of Focus
BRAND & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
How do we design experiences that make sustainable choices feel effortless?
Crafting cohesive identity systems and user experiences that make sustainable choices feel obvious and desirable
COMMUNITY BUILDING & EDUCATION
How do we build support and community around our climate mission?
Creating global networks of climate-focused creatives and developing curriculum that prepares the next generation of climate designers
CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY
How do we position the work we’re doing to attract investors, customers, talent?
Helping organizations translate complex climate solutions into compelling narratives that drive adoption, secure funding, and scale impact
CREATIVE FACILITATION
What's the best way to get our team thinking differently about this problem?
Leading design sprints and workshops that generate breakthrough ideas using methodologies like "Thinking Wrong" and systems thinking
DESIGN STUDIO TRANSFORMATION
What do we need to do to position ourselves to win climate projects?
Transitioning design teams and agencies toward climate work through capability building, strategic consulting, and new service development
CLIMATE COMMUNICATION & STORYTELLING
How do we make people excited about our environmental mission and vision?
Shifting cultural narratives from climate anxiety to climate possibility through visual storytelling and Solarpunk visions
Available for Hire
Want experienced leadership during growth phases or pivots?
Need an outsiders perspective to solve complex design challenges?
Searching for climate expertise through the lens of design?
Need a little bit of punk rock or thinking wrong in a project or campaign?
Need help transitioning your design studio to work in climate?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, then you might need a fractional Creative Director or Strategic Designer.