Making climate work impossible to ignore since 2016
I cut my teeth in social impact, partnering with communities to tackle real problems in education, health, and economic development. That foundation led me to climate, where I co-founded a climate-focused creative agency, built a global community of 5,000+ designers, helped startups raise $30M+, and have been teaching the next generation of climate designers.
My approach comes from two places: punk rock and thinking wrong. Question everything. Break the status-quo. Don’t wait for permission.
About Me
Designer Founder
From 2016–2022, I co-founded and ran The Determined, a design strategy and creative consulting studio for brands large and small taking climate action. We launched a number of successful sustainability and climate-forward brand, campaign, product, and service projects.
This experience has built my foundation of knowledge in the science, language, solutions, and approaches needed to address our climate emergency.
Climate Designer
In 2019, I co-founded Climate Designers, a global community of designers across every industry. We provide the knowledge, skills, and professional network to support designers in becoming climate leaders everywhere they work.
First Things First Author
In 2020, I collaborated with fellow designers to co-author the First Things First 2020 manifesto (FTF), the 4th version of FTF, originally published in 1964, which calls designers to the task of designing a better world.
The 2020 FTF has been translated into 20+ languages with almost 3,000 signatories.
AIGA Eye on Design called it the “most urgent and powerful iteration to date.”
Educator
Since 2013, I’ve been teaching at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA.
In 2020, I created “Climate Designers @ CCA” for undergrad and grad students in the Graphic Design and Interaction Design programs. I also taught a version of this on the Terra.do platform.
As of 2025, I’m a Senior Adjunct leading courses in climate design and social innovation.
Student
As a life-long student and designer, I’m always looking out for ways to expand my knowledge and skills within the climate space. Below is a growing list of courses I’ve completed.
+ RegenIntel Foundations Course, (Advanced Track), 2024
+ Climate Wisdom Fellowship, 2023
Outdoor Lover
When not behind my laptop, I’m out trail running, hiking, backpacking, camping, traveling, hanging with friends at one of the many San Francisco parks, or exploring SF on my bamboo bike.
Kind Words From Others
Marc is multi-faceted, multi-modal, and multi-disciplinary. I turn to him when I need to think wrong and do right. You cannot fail in collaborating with him.
+ Josh Silverman, MDes IxD Chair @ California College of the Arts
Marc was absolutely key in helping take the idea of Pando Populus and move it to its current stage — involved in everything from strategic and visual development to various collateral. In every way, he has helped move Pando forward in unique and bold directions.
+ Eugene Shirley, Founding president/CEO of Pando Populus
Marc’s always energetic and ambitious with a ‘get shit done’ attitude. He can really motivate a group of creative individuals and get you to question everything you thought was right.
+ Brian W. Jones, Project M Advisor, Founder of Welcome™
Marc took Serotonin from supporting purpose-driven clients to becoming a trusted partner for climate innovation orgs. His strategy, network, and knowledge of the climate economy elevated the quality and impact of our work.
+ Casey Hogue, Founder & Executive Director, Serotonin Creative
I walked out of Marc’s workshop feeling completely exhausted, but also feeling weirdly empowered and proud of myself and viewing myself for the first time as much more innately creative than I’d ever thought.
+ Justine Lai, participant at A Better World by Design
Together, we were able to launch AirMiners, the world’s largest innovation community dedicated to atmospheric carbon removal. Courageous innovation benefits from a healthy dose of thinking wrong, and I recommend Marc as a guide to that end.
+ Matthew Eshed, co-founder of AirMiners
Select Climate Clients
Press & Awards
ID Magazine
LA Times
Motherboard
Open Architecture
PSFK
SOCAP
Thinking for a Living
TreeHugger
World Design Organization
Climate Designers
IxDAward’s Future Voice winner
2022
Previous Clients
A few things that have nothing to do with climate
+ I built a bike out of bamboo and rode from Alabama to San Francisco, CA (I ride that same bike today)
+ Toured 1/3 of Iceland on a bike
+ Completed a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation
+ Drove a shipping container/mobile design studio for three months until the engine blew up
+ Was hit in the neck by a rock from a glacier in Iceland (long story)
+ Entered my first half-marathon trail race and won
+ Ran a 50k on trails starting at Mt. Tam to Pt. Reyes just to see if I could do it
+ Lived in 20+ places over the course of 3.5 years
+ Visited about 2/3 of the 280+ state parks in California
+ Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certified