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Do you want to work on climate? (Climate UX Discussion Series)
Summary
The first in a series of discussions centered around Climate UX. On November 15, Rosenfeld hosted a conversation between four UX professionals who have focused their careers around climate tech work. Whether you're looking to pivot your career towards climate tech or adapt your current role to be climate focused, this panel offered valuable perspectives on what it means to work on climate. Panelists: Matt Jones, Olga Khroustaleva, Michael Leggett, Karol Munoz; Moderator, Lou Rosenfeld
Key Insights
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Climate UX is an emerging but real field connecting design to urgent climate challenges.
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Many climate startups are early-stage and lack formal UX roles, requiring flexible self-positioning.
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Approaching climate projects by leveraging one’s existing design or product strengths, rather than forcing a new identity, works best.
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User-centered design helps climate science founders who lack product development experience create usable tools.
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Problem definition remains crucial but must be balanced with urgency to deliver solutions in the climate space.
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Systems thinking and understanding multiple climate impact layers are a secret superpower of UX practitioners.
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Effective climate communication, storytelling, and visualization accelerate stakeholder understanding and action.
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Networking proactively and saying yes to diverse climate-related roles accelerates entry into the space.
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Climate work can be financially viable and career-sustaining, not necessitating large sacrifices.
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Bringing joy and curiosity back into work motivates sustained climate-focused design efforts.
Notable Quotes
"Climate startups are a thing, and they really need UX expertise early on."
"I just said yes to everything climate-related until I found the right fit."
"Most science founders don’t think about user-centered design, and that’s where UXers add huge value."
"Systems thinking is a secret skill UXers have that’s critical for sustainable climate solutions."
"User experience can transform complex climate data into meaningful stories that spur action."
"Every job really is a climate job—there are ways to bring climate focus into any role."
"You don’t have to be a PhD or expert to work in climate; your design skills are already valuable."
"Talking about climate openly, even if uncomfortable, is a powerful way to create change."
"Climate UX feels like 1995 again, an exciting time of discovery and cross-domain jumps."
"What if it’s all a hoax and we just invented a better world for no reason? That’s a good place to be."
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