DESIGN STUDIO ONBOARDING
Your first step in becoming a climate design studio
The climate space is the fastest-growing sector in the world, but generalist design studios are struggling to close the deals.
They need designers who can do what you already do. They're hiring, but not hiring you.
Why? You can't speak their language. You don’t know their world.
The designers who "get it" are closing $100K+ deals in sectors you didn't know existed.
The climate emergency is the biggest design opportunity ever. The budgets are real. But, if you can't have an intelligent conversation about climate, you won't land the work.
This program fixes that.
For Design Studio Founders and
Creative Leaders
+ Exploring climate as practice area because you know there’s real budgets for projects
+ Repositioning around sustainability because you want to reach new audiences
+ Getting pressure from your team to do work that they have a personal interest in
Climate companies need design partners who understand spaces like carbon markets, regenerative principles, behavior change, and policy.
Most studios don't know this stuff. Let's get you caught up.
The Program
SESSION 1:
ASSESSMENT & ORIENTATION
Capability Audit
We'll map your studio's current strengths and gaps across climate knowledge areas: science, solutions, policy, materials. You'll see exactly why you're not getting climate work and how to fix it.
Climate Landscape
Understanding where the money is, who's hiring, and what they actually need from designers. We'll analyze your past work and find your climate entry point.
SESSION 2:
STRATEGY & ACTION
Services & Positioning
Building new offerings and refining existing ones that climate companies will pay for. We'll craft messaging and positioning that proves you understand their world.
Your 30-Day Action Plan
We’ll focus on your first five target companies, an outreach strategy, portfolio positioning, and a team upskilling plan. Everything you need to pitch your first climate client within a month.
Walk Away With
Capability Audit
We'll identify exactly where you're falling short in your climate knowledge and where you have transferable skills climate companies will pay for.
New/Updated Service Offerings
Specific services designed for climate/sustainability clients. We'll translate what you already do into an offering that gets you hired by climate companies in spaces you want to work in.
Positioning Pillars
How to talk about your work without overpromising or undercutting your expertise. You'll know exactly what to say (and what not to say) when a climate founder asks, "Have you worked in our space before?"
Landscape Audit
Understanding of the landscape: who's doing what, funding flows, key sectors, and where design studios fit in. We’ll create a market map of where your specific aesthetic and skills fit best (e.g., AgTech vs. Carbon Capture)
Your First 5 Climate Targets
We'll identify actual companies you can pitch within 30 days with specific reasons why your studio is a good fit. From portfolio positioning to network building to identifying your goals.
I've Been Where You Are
In 2016, I had to figure out how to break into the climate space as a design studio founder. We had no roadmap, no guidebook.
Since then, I’ve been bridging the gap between design, climate, and business.
+ Co-founded and ran a successful climate design studio for 7 years
+ Built Climate Designers, a global community of 5,000+ members across 5 continents
+ Helped climate tech startups secure over $30M in funding
+ Co-produced over 100 projects addressing LA County's sustainability plan
+ Created climate design courses for California College of the Arts and Terra.do
+ Presented numerous talks and interviews covering design and climate action
+ Worked across regenerative agriculture, carbon removal, ocean health, circular manufacturing, conservation, and environmental law
I know what climate companies actually need because I've worked with them.
Are you ready to build out your
climate design studio?
FAQs
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There is about 1 hour of prep work before we get started. Each section requires a certain amount of hours (see above). To respect your time, there will be minimal work between each session.
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If we are virtual, we’ll break down each session into smaller time blocks to avoid Zoom fatigue. If we are doing this in-person, we will time block appropriately to maximize our time together.