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.

Business, Climate, Design

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.