Shiftmakers: Reframing Climate Impact by Design
Shifmakers is a video series spotlighting Climate Tech founders and their use of design for impact that’s itself designed for impact by the designers and creatives who dreamed it to life.
The series introduces wider audiences to the people building the climate economy through intimate interviews and storytelling; doing for climate tech what Chef’s Table did for the highest levels of fine dining.
The goal is to demystify an industry that’s traditionally been insular and technical by showing the craft, care, and passion behind breakthrough technology, bringing it closer to the mainstream.
The series is the brainchild of Allelo, a digital product agency focused on Climate Tech. After connecting over our shared interest in advancing adoption for climate solutions through great creative, Allelo invited In-House to co-produce the series and develop a brand that would convey the energy and possibility of the sector to new audiences.
Challenge
The climate crisis requires urgent emissions reductions at scale. To decarbonize every aspect of modern life, huge changes are required. The climate industry offers sustainable solutions to decarbonize without compromising progress.
But climate industry brands lag far behind carbon-intensive incumbents in every category.
One big reason is that the climate industry keeps a low profile. It’s brands are hard to access and unknown to most. It’s hard to choose what we don’t know about.
Shiftmakers was created to introduce wider tech and innovation audiences to climate tech through its founders’ stories. The episodes bring the unfamiliar into known territories; vision, innovation, and design.
To attract viewers, Shiftmakers needs to show up in the right way—and exceed high production standards wider audiences are used to. In the process, the series should prove the value of great design and marketing to climate tech leaders thinking of investing in it.
Solution
- We got involved early in the process. To meet the series’ goals, the series’ brand identity is edgy, cool, and assertive—a bold statement in the highly technical climate industry.
- The brand system is built with fluid motion and the ripples created by impact at its core. It brings together acid contrast, and fast-moving concentric ripples across logos, motion graphics, and promotional materials.
- Lenticular graphics and textural transparency mimic slow-motion, inviting viewers to pay close attention and understand how impact happens. The effect is part rapid-shutter action photography, part nature and physics, part superhero magnetism.
- Our brand identity structure is designed to grow and evolve with the series, without compromising on practicality. The brand is modular, versatile and drop-in ready so consistent use is effortless.
Results
- ShiftMakers launched during New York Climate Week. It’s eye-catching design and brand stood out to organizers and influential figures in the climate industry. It was a Climate Week pick ahead of countless high-profile events presented by major industry brands and investors.
- After the ShiftMakers premiere, In-House became a partner in the series. We’ve co-developed the series’ funding strategy and materials, its distribution plan, and taken the lead on marketing strategy and promotions.
ShiftMakers first three episodes will be released monthly through Q4, 2024.
I approached In-House for the ShiftMakers project after connecting with Michu as a peer agency owner in this space and being very impressed with the creative approach she described. My expectations were very high before we started. They’re way better than I ever imagined. In-House is the real deal. They bring thoughtful, sharp strategy, bring killer insights, and get to the heart of what the brand is blazing fast. Then they set the timeline, deliver like clockwork, guide every step, and send plug-and-play finals like it’s nothing. In-House makes everything they work on better, sharper, easier and cooler. The only risk is you might never work with anyone else.
Nicole Dery
Principal