FOR INDIVIDUALS
Your design skills are a climate asset. Now is the time to use them.
Strategic coaching for designers who
+ Want to transition into climate work, but don’t know where to start
+ Already work in climate, but feel stuck at a growth plateau
+ Have passion around climate action, but need strategic direction to make it viable
+ Get advice from design people OR climate people, but never both
+ Want to do climate work without leaving their current role
Walk Away With
A 60-minute focused session where we work on:
A clear way to talk about your climate work: No more fumbling to explain why you care or why it’s credible. You’ll know exactly how to authentically position yourself.
A shortlist of real opportunities worth pursuing: Not a generic list of job boards. Specific roles, orgs, or paths that actually match your skills and where the field is headed.
A portfolio plan that builds real credibility: What to make, what to highlight, what to drop. So your work speaks to climate leaders, not just designers.
A decision on your next move: In-house, freelance, start something, join an org. We’ll work through the tradeoffs for your situation and land somewhere concrete.
A strategy for doing climate work from where you already are: “Climify” your current projects, shift your company’s direction, or build a body of work that positions you for climate roles down the road.
About Me
I've worked every side of the climate design transition:
In the Trenches
Previously, I worked in the social impact space. Since 2016, I’ve focused exclusively on climate work. I know both worlds intimately.
At the Community Level
Running Climate Designers, being an “Office Hours Expert” for Work on Climate, and talking to designers individually, I’ve coached over 250 designers as they’ve navigate this exact transition.
In the Classroom
Teaching climate design at California College of the Arts since 2019, I've helped students take their first step on their climate design journey.
I’ve also taught design courses on Skillshare and at General Assembly.
With Clients
I’ve worked with climate startups, nonprofits, and major orgs. I know what climate organizations actually need from designers.
How Sessions Work
BEFORE WE MEET
You'll fill out a brief intake form so I can prepare specifically for our session
THE SESSION
We’ll focus on your biggest questions, obstacles, and opportunities
AFTER WE MEET
You'll leave with specific next steps, a recording of our call, resources, and clarity on your path forward
Ready to Start?
Single Session
$100
Perfect if you need strategic guidance on a specific challenge
4-Session Package
$340 (15% savings)
For designers ready to make a serious transition over 2–3 months
Have questions? Get in touch!
Kind words from 1:1 participants
This has been the best half an hour of the last couple of years of my life.
+ Cole Fitter
Highly recommended. What stands out about Marc is not just the quality of his work, but the intention and care behind it. His support feels thoughtful, generous, and genuinely impactful.
+ Chiara Paola Ratti
Having worked with Marc closely for a year now, my climate design journey is better tenfold because of him. It’s easy for a young professional to feel overlooked among the hundreds of other folks doing work in the climate and design spaces, but Marc has been incredibly supportive of me. From expanding my independent climate and design research, to providing resources and connections in the climate space, to recommending classes and books I can learn from, his drive for enacting change and disrupting the status quo through design and community is unlike anyone’s I’ve worked with before. He serves as a huge inspiration to me and where I want my career to go!
+ Rachel Cifarelli
I had the chance to talk with Marc O'Brien about how the world is reacting to Climate Change and how important it is for each individual, no matter what industry she or he works in, to have a role in the sustainability world. Marc helped out a lot with pinpointing the important steps to be considered in our daily lives, and how our skills can be beneficial for climate. He also shared resources to better understand myself and know how to start my journey towards sustainability. Anyone who would like to have a different perspective about sustainability and understand how to approach their own journey, I would recommend to talk with Marc.
+ Najwa Karam
I’m grateful that Marc showed me that I can pursue my dreams of finding the type of job I’m looking for. During the session, Marc shared useful resources that I’m using to re-define what I want to pursue and where to spend my energy in taking climate action.
+ Carmen Escobar
Marc O'Brien met with me for a portfolio review when I was just starting my transition from an old school animator to a climate marketer. His feedback and insights were so helpful getting me on the right path. Thank you, Marc!
+ Lyla Warren
As a fresh graduate passionate to work towards sustainability leadership, I first met Marc in 2019 during a global conference and learned about climate designers. As an international candidate, job searching was challenging during the pandemic. Marc’s mentorship helped me discover and utilize my strengths to create opportunities for me to leverage my skills of strategic thinking, networking and leadership. I was able to start my podcast, take up volunteer projects and initiatives with the design community globally.
+ Jahnavi Mange
As someone who never went to a design school, I lacked the confidence to engage in conversations around the context of design and Marc emboldened me to bring my unique perspective to a conversation or during brainstorming ideas. His easy to approach demeanor makes him a terrific teacher and I am lucky to call him a mentor.
+ Sandeep Bedadala
Just finished a great session with Marc and am feeling so inspired/ready to dig in to the action steps that we talked about! Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for clarity and a more defined vision for their projects, and am so glad we connected.
+ Jessie Artigue
I highly recommend booking time with Marc – it will be an inspiring and creative session. He’s got a wonderful ability to facilitate “aha!” moments and can help you break through some creative barrier.
+ Emily Spade
FAQ
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Designers at any level interested in climate work. From students to senior practitioners working in UX, graphic, product, service, industrial design, etc. Basically, anyone working in the design space.
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That’s exactly why we’re talking. I help you figure out how to get started.
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Some people get what they need in one focused session. Others benefit from ongoing support over a few months. We can discuss what makes sense after our first conversation.
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No. Some people want to bring climate into their current non-climate role. Some want to go freelance. Some want to start something new. We work together on where you are in your career.
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Not at all. Some of the most impactful climate design work happens inside non-climate companies. We can work on how to bring climate into your current role, influence your organization’s direction, or build toward a transition at your own pace.