My name is Marc O’Brien and since 2016, I’ve been bridging the gap between design, climate, and business

As a designer working in climate, I specialize in

STRATEGY

Applying big-picture application of design principles and strategies to solve complex business challenges

Skills

+ Strategic Design
+ Business Model Design
+ Marketing Strategy
+ Content Strategy
+ Landscape Analysis
+ Market Research
+ Design Sprints
+ Cross-Discipline
Collaboration

BRANDING

Creating a cohesive identity system that shapes how people perceive and connect with a product, service, or company

Skills

+ Creative Direction
+ Brand Development
+ Brand Systems
+ Messaging Strategy
+ Product Naming
+ Visual Storytelling
+ Graphic Design

USER EXPERIENCE

Bridging business objectives with human needs to create intentional, meaningful interactions between people and products or services

Skills

+ Interaction Design
+ User Research
+ User Testing
+ Journey Mapping
+ Rapid Prototyping
+ Wireframing / Mockups


I deliver wildly imaginative and effective work for climate-forward projects

BRAND BUILDING

Developing, advising, and shaping distinctive brand touch points to achieve business goals

Align every creative decision based on the appropriate call-to-action

Implement strategic design design principles and strategies to solve complex business challenges

Question founders and executives, digging deeper to discover better approaches

Lead design teams to produce the most effective deliverables for the right audience

COLLECTIVE ACTION

Helping organizations rally their people to come together and build a shared vision 

Create platforms and experiences that allow the community to share knowledge, skills, and resources

Design clear pathways to empower people to take action within their local communities, workplaces, or industries

Support organizers in translating industry progress, news, and opportunities to their communities

Build authentic relationships based on core values, shared goals, and purpose to drive effective engagement

CREATIVE FACILITATION

Facilitating events, experiences, and conversations that help people get unstuck

Translate complex climate issues into digestible communication for people to understand

Prototype and test ideas ASAP to keep the work going and avoid losing time and money

Take ideas off of Post-Its and start breaking down large goals into small bets with clear action plans

Think wrong to generate unique ideas that uncover potential challenges or new opportunities

NEW INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

Laying the creative groundwork for nascent, emerging climate industries

Learn emerging solutions and approaches, unique policy proposals, and unconventional business models to design new climate categories

Work with founders who have a vision beyond what is being imagined today—visions that push boundaries to show what's possible to get more support for their work

I’m currently freelancing with design studios and climate orgs

Get in touch to discuss contract or full-time work.

In the meantime, learn more about me, check out my résumé, and connect with me on LinkedIn.

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Read older posts about design, climate, and business on Medium.

My creative process

Since 2009, I’ve been using the Think Wrong process, which helps come up with fresh approaches to challenges and breaks through roadblocks to uncover new ideas.

I then bring in Prototype Thinking, which focuses on testing and iteration to quickly validate solutions.

It’s a great “one-two punch” of creative innovation.