Ethan Smith
Bringing Nature Positive Futures to Life | Innovation Management, Research, Strategy, Program Direction
- Role
- Founder & Principal at Ævi
- Location
- Seattle, WA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Ethan Smith
I help organizations and communities imagine and build initiatives that repair and reimagine our relationships with each other, the places we belong to, and the systems we\'re tangled up in.For nearly twenty years, I’ve worked across scales and sectors—from connecting millions with nature-inspired innovation at the Biomimicry Institute, to advancing patient-centered care at Johnson & Johnson, to co-creating frameworks that bring planetary science into policy conversations, and a whole lot more. My work is grounded in systems thinking, creative direction, and a belief that real change happens when we honor what’s come before, listen deeply, and invite diverse perspectives to the table.What I bring: Strategy & Creative Direction: Opening doors to emergent pathways within the contexts of interdependent living systems Program Leadership: Guiding teams through complex transitions with clarity, empathy, and a focus on lasting impact Partnership Building: Weaving together unlikely collaborators to spark innovation and build trust across boundariesBased in Bellingham, WA, working locally and globally. If you’re exploring how to navigate change with care—whether you’re a startup, established organization, or community initiative—I’d love to connect and explore what’s possible together.
Experience
Founder & Principal
Jan 2019 — Present
AEVI supports teams developing new ventures and systems via a synthesis of research, speculative futures, and integrated product, service, and business design.Recent engagements- Planetary Guardians: Research and strategy for a global initiative embedding planetary science into government policy and security frameworks- Niterra Venture Lab: Led development of a digital health platform for respiratory care, from concept to $8M internal exit, in partnership with ADG and global stakeholders- W̶a̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶W̶a̶r̶s̶ (how to avoid): Strategic design and partner development for a story-focused civic engagement initiative transforming water conflict into collaboration in the Pacific Northwest- Ancy: Co-founder and product lead for a SaaS solution in commercial interiors, reducing project specification time by 50% for major industry partners.
Education
Bonfire with Soul
Business Administration and Management, General
2021
West Linn High School
Honors Graduate
University of Puget Sound
Comparative Sociology, Visual Design
Portland Community College
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Capital Institute
Introduction to Regenerative Economics, Economics
2023
Gaia Education
Indigenous Knowledge Systems
2025
Gaia Education
4D Regenerative Design Literacy, Social Sciences
2024
Biomimicry 3.8
Bioimimicry Specialist Certificate
2012
altMBA
Organizational Leadership
2020
Emergence Magazine
Seeds for Radical Renewal, Abridged, Business/Commerce, General
2023
Western Washington University
BS, Industrial Design, Sustainable Design & Planning
Skills
- Design Thinking
- Business Strategy Design
- Product Management
- Graphic Design
- Sketching
- Industrial Design
- Interaction Design
- Product Design
- User Experience Design
- Product Development
- Art Direction
- Rendering
- Strategic Planning
- Copywriting
- Creative Direction
- Biomimicry
- Team Leadership
- User Experience
- Design Strategy
- Photography
- Brand Development
- Concept Development
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