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Unfiltered ideas on design, business, and climate action

I'm Marc O'Brien, a fractional Strategic Designer, Creative Director, and Design Educator

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Mar 31
March Recap

March Recap

A quick recap of things that happened this month. March has been a month of deep reflection. Not sure why.
1 min read
Mar 29
Why Successes & Struggles is an important event

Why Successes & Struggles is an important event

I’ve been hosting these virtual events via Climate Designers called Successes & Struggles for about six months now. Successes
1 min read
Mar 13
My CreativeMornings SF talk

My CreativeMornings SF talk

During a recent talk at CreativeMornings SF, I asked the question, "What are we doing? Like for real. WTF
1 min read
Mar 09
Is this it? Is this the best we can do?

Is this it? Is this the best we can do?

We’re living in the imagination of the dominant system that is actively fucking the planet up. Everything around us
1 min read
Mar 02
What would you like to see out of your window?

What would you like to see out of your window?

When I look out the window, do I want to sustain what I see? Hell no. Turn on the news.
1 min read
Feb 11
Climate resiliency is solarpunk af

Climate resiliency is solarpunk af

I love seeing the recent interest in solarpunk: the movement itself, ethos, vision, and imagery. But, something keeps bugging me.
1 min read
Feb 05
What CCA gave me over the last 13 years

What CCA gave me over the last 13 years

California College of the Arts has played a monumental role in my career and life. I've had opportunities
2 min read
Jan 08
Is this the future we want?

Is this the future we want?

More oil for fossil fuels. More rare-earth minerals for AI. This is extraction and pollution. This is the opposite of
1 min read
Dec 23
December Recap

December Recap

A quick recap of things that happened this month. Over the last nine months, I had these nagging thoughts in
1 min read
Dec 23
I think we've all had better years

I think we've all had better years

This year mostly sucked: funding being pulled, projects stalling, cold outreach going no where. Ah, the life of an independent.
3 min read
Dec 04
Hey, designer! Take climate action in 2026

Hey, designer! Take climate action in 2026

The new year is around the corner. Many of us are starting to think about New Year goals and actions
1 min read
Dec 01
November Recap

November Recap

A quick recap of things that happened this month. Offering two new services 1. If you are a design studio
1 min read