Climate Career Advice for Designers
Find the intersection of climate needs and your expertise
So You Want to Do Climate Design
I frequently hear from other designers that want to do climate-related work but aren’t sure where to start. There’s three ways I think about this career switch. The first is to simply start making changes to your current work. The second is to find a new job. And the third (and, I think, the most interesting) is to develop an expertise that makes organizations come to you.
1. Change Your Job
You could have an impact on the climate in your current work by looking around at how you and your organization currently operate and, for example, design ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Perhaps people in your organization frequently fly to work together and you figure out ways to collaborate remotely.
2. Get a New Job
You could look for a new job with an organization that directly solves a climate problem. There are many places to start looking; Work on Climate is one. Some of these jobs will be like any new job in a new industry: you have a bit of a learning curve but then the day-to-day work is similar to other design jobs. But some of these jobs will require a more in-depth knowledge of science, policy, or another area to perform in the role. In a future piece I’ll write more about quickly learning targeted information in this space.
3. Develop Your Expertise
What I think is the most compelling approach is to develop a deep expertise in one area of design that is relevant to climate work. Here I subscribe to the “so good they can’t ignore you” philosophy, which is about focusing not on what seems fun or interesting but what you actually work hard on to become a skilled craftsperson. For example, I have college degrees in both journalism and music. I love writing and I love writing and playing music. And I briefly held jobs doing each of those things. But software design was where I actually spent all my free time researching, learning, and practicing, and that’s ultimately where I’ve had a successful career.
The Intersection of Expertise and Climate Solutions
A next step is to look at climate solutions and consider where your expertise can play a part. For example, there’s a multitude of communications design challenges, from mapping to visualization. I love the work of Nicole Kelner who combined her knowledge of climate and her skill in watercolor painting:
Looking at this illustration, I understand it. But furthermore the softly blended earth tones and watery brush marks help me feel what is happening.
Your skin like dawn Mine like musk One paints the beginning of a certain end. The other, the end of a sure beginning.
–Passing Time by Maya Angelou