Hey Climate Designers,

This month we are taking a hiatus from our learning series on resource library perspectives to share some reflections from the survey we ran earlier this year.

If you missed the past few issues of this newsletter, we encourage you to check them out. Each issue is packed with resources and inspiration:

• ​Systemic design issue and resource guide​
• ​Circular design issue and resource guide​
• ​Regenerative design issue and resource guide​

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Survey Reflections

Climate Designers ran its biannual member survey in February. We had over 140 designers fill out our massive questionnaire, with responses across five continents representing every career stage and design specialty.

First off, a huge thanks to those who participated in taking the survey. We appreciate your time and thoughtful responses. Many were in depth, and know that we have read every one.

Over the last few months, a small team from the Climate Designers has been synthesizing what was shared with us.

What we see is a community that cares deeply, is highly motivated, and wants to take action. But they are working against familiar constraints that are particularly challenging at this time of instability: organizational friction, stakeholder and client resistance, under-resourced sustainability teams, balancing values with needing a paycheck, operating in survival mode, burnout, feeling alone.

We also see a community of well informed, accomplished design leaders committed to the work. They are eager to connect with each other for peer learning and solidarity in the challenges. They enjoy this newsletter, our in-person Chapter events, and our virtual events. And they are seeking more ways to learn and connect on workplace persuasion, systemic change, AI, and to simply support each other. We have no shortage of new opportunities to explore.

Most of all, the survey has been an opportunity to take a pause and consider our role in this moment. The work of Climate Designers to date has largely focused on catalyzing designers to action through their work. But design and the world at large is rapidly changing. For some, this is a time to push for change within existing systems. For others, it’s about building regenerative systems in parallel: community gardens, the third spaces, the small local projects where we can have influence. Each of us have different opportunities and roadblocks, and the biggest levers of action available to us may be personal as much as professional.

Whatever impact you’re looking to have, we’d like to be there to support you. This organization isn’t for us, it’s for you and everyone else working to make climate-positive change. We have always operated as a do-ocracy, and all of our programs have been co-created by the community. If there’s something you’d like to see us offer that you’d like to lead, or you simply want to share your ideas with us, reach out. The survey only runs so often, but our door is always open.

- Marc O'Brien & Natalie Walsh
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Latest from Climate Designers

Doom & Bloom Launches Season 2!

In season two of Doom & Bloom we’re focusing on how designers can shift the culture within the design industry to prioritize climate-forward design decisions.

We kicked off the new season during San Francisco Climate Week, interviewing Dr. Renee Lertzman, climate psychologist and strategist.

Listen to Renee and Marc O’Brien, host of the podcast, discuss the gap between how much designers care about climate and how little they're actually able to integrate it into their work and why the usual moves (educating, persuading, making the case harder) don’t work. They also explored how shifting from “yell, tell, sell” to attunement and guiding can help designers actually move culture inside their organizations.

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Doom & Bloom Launches Online Events

As part of the launch of Season 2, we are excited to share a new online event series for the Doom & Bloom podcast where we’ll unpack the latest podcast episode.

Listen to the latest episode on Spotify or Apple and bring your ideas, questions, and inspiration. These will be every second FRI of the month. Join us for the first event on June 12.

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Next Sustainability Struggles Online Meetup

We’re skipping June’s Successes & Struggles event.

In the meantime, check out what attendees saying about these meetups:

“This is a super high quality and compassionate group, it’s been great to connect with creatives and hear their stories/challenges/passions with the work they are doing.”

“In this day and age, it’s harder and harder to connect with people about climate as a creative person. But the Successes & Struggles allows me to feel like I’m not alone as we share the good parts and the bad parts about being a creative in climate.”

"The Successes & Struggles event is a great place to connect with other creatives actively working towards climate/sustainability goals. I love that I'm able to find genuine support, both for morale and through tangible tips."

Experience Successes & Struggles for yourself. Join us on July 1st.

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Volunteer with us!

We’re looking for additional Chapter Leaders to support existing chapters in Toronto, Seattle, and Bengaluru.

We’re also looking for those interested in producing online events.

These openings and more are on our volunteer page.

Community Highlights

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Marc O’Brien discusses the First Things First 2020 manifesto

The First Things First manifesto is a well-known document calling for graphic designers and visual communicators to redirect their skills away from commercial advertising and toward more socially, culturally, and environmentally worthwhile projects. The first edition of FTF was written in 1964.

Marc O’Brien was one of three authors who updated the manifesto in 2020.

Marc was joined by FTF2020 co-author Ben Gaydos on the latest episode of "Talk Paper Scissors", hosted by Diana Varma.

They covered the origin story of the first FTF manifesto, why they felt it needed updating, and how designers can make climate-forward decisions in their work. For Marc, signing the manifesto was just the beginning. His goal was giving designers somewhere to go with that energy, which is why the call-to-action pointed directly to Climate Designers.

Urgent Call to protect the Great Nicobar Islands of India

Our Bengaluru Chapter lead Keerthana R is spreading the word about the Great Nicobar project, which could lead to the loss of over 130 sq km of forest, impacting an estimated 1–10 million trees.

The Great Nicobar Islands is one of the world's largest carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, also home to vulnerable Indigenous tribes, endangered wildlife, and fragile coral ecosystems. While the project's defense-related aspects may be strategically important, large-scale tourism, commercial development in this ecologically sensitive zone, and the project's location on the island raise serious environmental concerns.

There are still major unanswered questions around transparency, tribal safety, wildlife relocation, coral damage, and long-term ecological impact. This is not just a regional issue; it is a concern for the global climate future.

Read more and support the petition here.
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Events & Opportunities

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Climate Designers Events

• ​New Wave: Successes & Struggles on May 28
• ​Toronto Chapter: Designers Upcycled Craft Night Social on June 4
• ​Climate Designers Global: Doom & Bloom Recap Hangout on June 12
• ​New York Chapter: Sustainable Summer events & field trips on June 14, 26, & July 8
• ​New Wave: Climate Design 101: Climate Action Venn Diagram on June 25
• ​Climate Designers Global: Successes & Struggles on July 1

External Events

• ​Understanding the Dynamics of the Environmental Impacts of AI on June 10
• ​Radical Possibility: How Climate Fiction Can Create Better Futures on June 10
• ​Design Science Studio regen·era Rising on June 19–21
• ​Getting People Onboard: Engagement Strategies for Tech & Policy Transitions on June 25
• ​Regenerative Technology Playshop ~ Governance & Collaboration on June 30
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Courses & Opportunities

• ​Clean Creatives F-List RFP, due June 5
• ​Narwhal Ventures Post-growth Entrepreneurship Incubator starting June 8
• ​Agog Open Call: Climate Futures + Immersive Media, due June 12
• ​Degrowth: A Path to the Great Turning Online Courses starting June 20 & 21
• ​From Hazard to Hope: Arts in Action student design challenge, due July 28
• ​2027 NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship, due December 4
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Conferences, Cohorts, and Climate Weeks

• ​Toronto Climate Week on June 1–7
• ​Hollywood Climate Summit (online available) on June 3–4
• ​Bengaluru Climate Summit on June 4–5
• ​London Climate Action Week on June 20–28
• ​Trellis Impact Conference (San Francisco) on June 23–25
• ​Transition Design Conference (Mexico City & online) on July 8–11
• ​Pacific North-West Climate Week on July 13–19
• ​Chicago Climate Week on July 18–25
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Jobs

• ​Check out the latest on the Climate Designers job board
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Inspiration

A selection from the team.

​AI in Design Report 2026​ “We’ve been having lively discussions about AI and design on our volunteer team. Our attitudes and approaches are all across the board. Regardless of how creatives choose to engage with AI, this report is an interesting snapshot into how designers are using AI right now. The study was global, although support was from largely US based companies. One piece that stuck out is that those interviewed are hiring the same or more in design, which is counter to a lot of the discussion I see out there. It was also interesting to see what tools people are using and their current pain points.” - Natalie Walsh​

​You Need This!​ “I’ve been sharing this new documentary (produced by Adam McKay) with many of my peers and students. It’s 84 minutes unpacking consumer capitalism, how it started, and how it has “evolved into a global system shaping our desires, identities, and behaviors.” We've been conditioned to find meaning and status through consumption, but in doing so it’s costing us the environment, our relationships, and our mental health. Watch on Apple or Amazon, but I would encourage you to stream right from its website.” - Marc O’Brien​

​AI Energy Calculator "Last week during our Climate Designers monthly team meeting there was a lot of talk about AI. We shared the different trackers and calculators out there, like Green Pixie’s AI Energy Calculator lets you explore what drives AI energy, carbon, and water consumption, so you can see how different inputs affect impact. But there are so many intangible repercussions we can’t track. The ethical, environmental justice, and employment impacts are just as astronomical." - Rachel Cellinese​

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Keep this Party Going

If you value what we do, consider giving the gift of a few dollars each month to allow this organization to continue operation. As our thanks, one-time donors of $50+ and monthly donors of $5+ will receive access to members-only content and our deepest gratitude. Your support allows us to continue to offer what we do for free, and benefits the entire design and climate community.

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Quick Links

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We’re always looking for help. Check out our latest volunteer opportunities.

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Ready to grow your climate design knowledge? Check out our Resource Library.

Pick up your copy of A Field Guide to Climate Design eBook.
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