Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
This video is featured in the Climate UX Case Studies playlist.
Summary
Climate change demands action, but many UX professionals feel stuck between deep climate concern and uncertainty about making meaningful impact in their current roles. At this session, UXer Sara Conklin will share how she transformed from climate-anxious and feeling “climate-stuck” at work to driving climate impact through industry credibility without changing jobs. Key insight: UX skills alone aren't enough. You need technical climate knowledge to add real value. Sara will share the strategies she used to shift from climate-stuck to focused contributor, plus concrete tools to build climate clarity, confidence, credibility, and contributions whether or not you stay in your current role.
Key Insights
-
•
Adding specificity to the climate Venn diagram by defining what specific work needs to be done is crucial for effective climate action.
-
•
Reading and decoding a company’s ESG report is a valuable first step to understanding how one can contribute to climate goals internally.
-
•
Using a double diamond design process helps to navigate ambiguous climate problems by iterating between exploring problem spaces and focusing on solutions.
-
•
Focusing too broadly on multiple climate problems can lead to floundering; narrowing down to one well-defined problem accelerates impact.
-
•
Self-directed learning combined with structured, niche climate classes provides both foundational knowledge and practical skills.
-
•
Building a network of people who know just slightly more than you (‘one notch above’) makes networking conversations more productive and less intimidating.
-
•
Freelancing or pro bono projects offer hands-on experience to apply climate knowledge even without a formal climate job.
-
•
Even if your current job isn’t climate-focused, you can bring climate action into it by reading ESG reports, finding allies, and applying climate design principles.
-
•
Strategic networking for climate work involves targeted outreach with specific questions, not generic cold contacts.
-
•
Making a disciplined learning plan and blocking time for ‘flat food learning’ helps overcome the common excuse of ‘not having enough time’.
Notable Quotes
"Many UXers do feel stuck and care about climate, but they’re really not sure how to contribute professionally."
"I started at absolute zero with climate knowledge and now I have clarity, confidence, credibility, and ability to contribute."
"What I realized is you need to add one word to the climate Venn diagram: specific, what specific work needs doing."
"Reading my company’s ESG report overwhelmed me with words I didn’t understand but was crucial for knowing where to focus."
"You have to get super specific about the climate problem you want to solve and why it's important for you."
"Don’t cold reach out to people with ‘let’s connect’; instead, ask very specific questions about topics they care about."
"Network with people who know just one notch more than you, not the CEO right away."
"Self-directed learning is hard and busy, but you have to make time and schedule learning religiously."
"I applied my unique skills in UX strategy, behavior design, and innovation facilitation to help climate tech reduce adoption barriers."
"Every job is a climate job. Wherever we are, the climate needs us to address it in our role."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Sponsor sessions are not sales pitches, they’re incredibly high quality and free to attend."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
March 28, 2023
"Inclusion, collaboration, and iteration are the three pillars of how we work with authors to make a book."
Louis RosenfeldCoffee with Lou: Should You Write a (UX) Book?
March 7, 2024
"It’s exhausting every day doing extra emotional and cultural labor beyond the design work itself."
Jennifer Strickland Lesley-Ann NoelFireside Chat: How Design Addresses a World on Fire
March 18, 2022
"Safe money has solid returns, so fiscally responsible companies demand higher returns from new investments especially with inflation."
Mike OrenWhy Pharmaceutical's Research Model Should Replace Design Thinking
March 28, 2023
"You can have a single page that’s got inaccessible, compliant, and accessible experiences all in one."
Alexis LucioScaling Accessibility Through Design Systems
June 9, 2022
"We don’t make big deliverables because they create friction; instead, we create shared understanding through conversations."
Edgar Anzaldua MorenoUsing Research to Determine Unique Value Proposition
March 11, 2021
"Many design champions started as non-designers and transitioned into design careers after becoming community leads."
Lona MooreScaling Design Beyond Designers
June 11, 2021
"Half-day Fridays is a way for us to give back to ourselves and promote work-life balance."
Jen Crim Jess Quittner Saritha Kattekola Alex Karr Gurbani PahwaCulture, DIBS & Recruiting
June 11, 2021
"We don’t just want to hand over the data as a black box; we want to provide contextual information to preserve knowledge."
Bryce Benton[Demo] AI-powered UX enhancement: Aligning GitHub documentation with USWDS at Austin Public Library
June 4, 2024
