My whole career has been hell-bent on turning ideas into action, going from Post-Its to implementation
Since 2009, I’ve been a designer, creative facilitator, and strategist working on a variety of social impact projects, many of which I started myself. I’ve collaborated with local communities, non-profits, and various organizations to implement solutions and ventures within a wide range of areas such as technology, public education, health, and economic development.
In 2015, I had my climate epiphany. I wanted to level up my work and take on the biggest challenge and opportunity humans have ever faced—our climate breakdown.
Designer Founder
From 2016–2022, I co-founded and ran The Determined, a design strategy and creative consulting studio for brands large and small addressing our climate crisis. 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 committed to climate action.
We offer support, resources, and events to help designers become climate designers.
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 has over 2,200 signatories. And AIGA Eye on Design called it the “most urgent and powerful iteration to date.”
Educator
Since 2013, I’ve been teaching undergrads and grad students in Graphic Design and Interaction Design, part time at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA.
In 2020, I created “Climate Designers @ CCA”, a class I teach to undergrad and grad students in the Graphic Design and Interaction Design programs. I bring topics, resources, and ideas from the global Climate Designers community into the classroom. I apply what I learn from the class and students to the larger organization.
In 2021, I co-created “Becoming a Climate Designer” a multi-week course on the Terra.do platform. We’ve since taught two successful cohorts with plans on teaching again in early 2023.
I’ve also taught design and other topics on Skillshare.com and at General Assembly.
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 taken.
+ RegenIntel Foundations Course, 2024
+ Climate Wisdom Fellowship, 2023
Work on Climate Volunteer
Since 2023, I’ve been providing feedback, suggestions, and recommendations, along with sharing my experience and knowledge, with designers in the Work on Climate community, which has 20,000+ members.
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.
In a nutshell
Marc O'Brien is an award-winning creative strategist and designer working at the intersection of design, business, and climate.
He started his career in social design where he collaborated with a number of local communities, non-profits, and various organizations to implement solutions and ventures within a wide range of areas such as technology, public education, health, and economic development.
From 2016–2022, he co-founded and ran The Determined, a design strategy and creative consulting studio, which launched a number of successful sustainability and climate-forward brand, campaign, product, and service projects.
In 2019, Marc co-founded Climate Designers, a global community of designers across every industry committed to climate action.
He is also adjunct faculty at California College of the Arts in San Francisco where he teaches a class he developed called Climate Designers.
When he’s not thinking about design and climate action, you can find Marc trail running, camping, or traveling the beautiful state of California.
Skills & Talents
STRATEGY
+ Strategic Design
+ Brand Development
+ Messaging Strategy
+ Marketing Strategy
+ Content Strategy
+ User Research, Testing
+ Design Sprints
+ Product Naming
DESIGN
+ Brand Systems
+ Creative Direction
+ UX/UI Design
+ Graphic Design
+ Visual Storytelling
+ Presentation Design
BUSINESS
+ Leading teams
+ Innovation Strategy
+ Business Models
+ Competitive Landscape Analysis
+ Cross-Discipline Collaboration
+ Market Research
+ Emerging Industry Research
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.
Select climate clients
Previous 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
Kind words from others
I’ve worked with Marc in several different capacities, from co-leading workshops to run-of-the-mill design projects. Marc’s always energetic and ambitious with a “get shit done” attitude. He can really motivate a group of creative individuals looking for inspiration and get you to question everything you thought was right. FSU.
+ Brian W. Jones, Project M Advisor, Founder of Welcome™
I walked out of Marc’s workshop feeling completely exhausted, but also feeling weirdly empowered and proud of myself. I also viewed myself for the first time as being much more innately creative than I had ever really thought. I think many others felt that way, and I give full credit to Marc for giving us that experience.
+ Justine Lai, participant at A Better World by Design
I worked with Marc on a project to design and run an innovation workshop. Marc was a pleasure to work with, collaborative, creative, professional and always looking for ways to generate the best outcome. He understands the innovation process at a deep level, and how best to unlock the creativity of groups. I look forward to the next opportunity I have to work with him.
+ David Hodgson, network catalyst
Marc was been absolutely key in helping to 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 became a mentor to my students during our project together. He even took the time to check in with us over Skype several times well after his part of the project was completed. I would have him return every year if I could.
+ Heather Boone, Associate Professor at Visual Arts Center at Tidewater Community College
I worked with Marc while developing climate innovation concepts in San Francisco and was greatly influenced by the approaches that he champions and practices. Together, we were able to launch AirMiners, the world's largest innovation community dedicated to atmospheric carbon removal technologies, with the intention to make a space for creative engagement in service of getting things done. Courageous innovation is benefited from a healthy dose of "thinking wrong" so that we can find what's right, and I recommend Marc as a guide and facilitator to that end.
+ Matthew Eshed, co-founder of AirMiners
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 is so generous—with his time, his energy, his creativity, and his smarts. The students and faculty at California College of the Arts have benefited tremendously from his fresh perspective, and I am thankful that he has joined the CCA community.
+ Rachel Berger, Chair & Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, California College of the Arts
Our program and university were lucky to have had the privilege of having Marc as an adjunct faculty. He took naturally to teaching and gave way more than was expected. He cared about each of the students and personally went out of his way to ensure that they were learning the skills necessary to become designers today. He created challenging projects, creative projects, and brought real world wisdom into our program. He is an excellent educator and facilitator, super creative, and inspiring.
+ Jason Dilworth, Assistant Professor at SUNY Fredonia, Alabamboo Make & Ride team member