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ETHAN F SMITH

Living Systems Thinker
Co-design Facilitator
Venture Builder



I operate from the premise that modern systems are collapsing, and that the path forward requires audacious, systemic change grounded in ecological and indigenous wisdom, mutual stewardship, and re-harmonization of human ingenuity with nature and place. With a background in design leadership and systems thinking, I help teams navigate complexity, engage diverse partners, and develop solutions that move us toward regenerative futures for all.
︎ Living systems thinker adept at navigating ambiguity,  distilling complexity, and building momentum toward life-affirming interventions

︎ Facilitator of collaborative design engaging diverse stakeholders around whole system dynamics

︎ Program leader, advisor, researcher, design strategist, and hands-on builder of responsible ventures, brands, products, and services

Ask me about...


Prototyping an LLM-enabled value chain mapping tool for material decomposition and circularity with Biomimicry Institute

Incubating a medtech venture to help people breathe with dignity with ADG

Co-designing support services for mental health patients embarking on new treatment pathways with Janssen

Envisioning and operationalizing the future of lifetime optical care with J&J Vision

Prototyping a time-saving digital service for commercial interior designers with Ancy

Facilitating the smooth centralization of learning & development programs within a global corporation with J&J

Building coalitions around personally-tuned product, service, and retail innovation with lululemon

Leading programs that help innovators engage with nature as a model, mentor, and measure with Biomimicry Institute

Distilling brand strategy and overhauling digital presence for an award-winning film producer with Reel Water Productions

Empowering stormwater management leaders to learn from locally attuned living systems with Biomimicry Oregon

Inspiring data management participation through visualization, understanding, and connection with XPLANE

Building a rich media and sharing platform for the world’s most sought-after conservation storytellers with International League of Conservation Photographers

Orchestrating an international whitewater expedition and educational campaign focused on salmon health with National Geographic Expeditions Council

Supporting community-led interventions for healthy forests and lungs in rural Nepal with Foundation for Sustainable Technologies

Holistically designing apparel and accessories to balance performance,  beauty, and sustainability with Nau

Nice words from great folks

“Ethan's role as a new ventures Design Director for a Japanese client in respiratory health showcased his exceptional skills as a researcher, designer, and leader. Beyond his remarkable ability to navigate the complexities of product development and cultural fluency, Ethan's true strength lies in his ability to foster unity and resilience within a team. His inclusive approach, emphasis on sustainability, and unwavering commitment to the shared mission transformed challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration. Working alongside Ethan was not only professionally but also personally rewarding, as he became a trusted friend and leader I eagerly anticipate collaborating with on future initiatives.”
- Andrew Walls, Founder and Managing Director at Boardroom Labs


“[Ethan’s] style of leadership ... includes a wonderful combination of welcoming and respecting of new ideas without losing track of the big picture. I was extremely impressed by his wide ranging abilities from strategic planning, to design thinking and business model development, all the way to coding and UX/UI skills. I can wholeheartedly recommend Ethan as a dynamic, multi-talented leader with fantastic teamwork skills.”
- Erin Rovalo, Ph.D., VP, Community Department at International Living Future Institute


“I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Ethan on a very high visibility project that he led at Johnson & Johnson. Always thoughtful and thorough in his craft, I especially appreciated how attuned Ethan was to the needs of the team and our client partners: he has a keen ability to anticipate needs, push when necessary and with the right measure of force. The result? The team, under his leadership, consistently delivered excellence in research, insights and strategy. Another key to success is Ethan's superior synthesis skills: distilling vast amounts of info in cohesive and impactful communications.”
- Jonathan Finer, Director Strategy at Conran Design Group


“[Ethan] is the unique individual that has both the vision to plot the strategic growth of a program, and the technical skill to implement it. He is also a pleasure to work with. He is always responsive, flexible, willing to troubleshoot, and tackles problems with a calm sense of humor.” 



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Oriented as an innovation leader, multimodal design strategist, systems thinker, technologist, and researcher, I am skilled at navigating the unknown to build teams and coalitions, weave perspectives, and facilitate conditions for productive collaboration amongst diverse groups.

Over nearly twenty years I’ve helped build change management strategies, venture concepts, digital and physical products, brand expressions, expeditions, events, and more with a variety of globally respected organizations.

For me, bringing meaning to projects comes down to developing a clear understanding of the people and systems I'm serving, an intimate relationship with the languages, tools, and raw materials I'm working with, and a fun and productive relationship with the people I'm creating with. Learn. Build. Measure. Repeat.

My journey has taken me across a range of industries and landscapes—including mission-driven startups in apparel and the built environment, globally recognized non-profits focused on innovation, education, and conservation, fast-paced management and design consultancies, and a handful of global corporations in apparel, healthcare, transportation, aerospace, and tech. In each, I've had the honor of working alongside brave teams of brilliant folks dedicated to challenging the status quo.

I am committed to bringing forth ways of being that bring people and nature back together, grapple with and push beyond colonial paradigms of extraction, exploitation, and externalization, and plant seeds for equitable and regenerative futures.

I'm fortunate to live amongst a breadth of accessible mountains, rivers, and coastlines surrounding the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest, and exploring these biodiverse environments with friends and family via foot, bike, kayak, and skis is where I feel most "me." Give a holler if you're ever through the area and I'd love to show you around!


I’ve had the pleasure of working with brilliant teams to create value for:

ADG, Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe, Alaska Mountain Guides, Biomimicry 3.8, Biomimicry Institute, Black Dot, Bonfire, Briggs & Riley, CIT, Eddie Bauer First Ascent, Forge Portland, Ford, G99, HMK, Hyperloop TT, IBM, Indochine Development Group, Intel, International League of Conservation Photographers, Johnson & Johnson, Keen, King Pacific Lodge, Lockheed Martin, Lululemon, Mondetta, Mountain Hardwear, Nau, National Geographic, Outdoor Research, Petunia Picklebottom, P&G, Pongo Media Productions, PTC, Reel Water Productions, Rocker Ski Rack, Save Our Wild Salmon, SouthWings, Sugarluxe, Sunset Mortgage, Tabar, Under Solen, XPLANE, and more ...