About Mariana

Mariana is the Director of Blue Horizons at Conservation International, where she leads a team tasked to bring catalytic innovation for ocean conservation and oversees the integration of human-centered design and creative confidence across the organization.

Before joining Conservation International, Mariana Prieto founded Design for Wildlife, a collective dedicated to creating large-scale, economically sustainable solutions for wildlife-related challenges using human-centered design processes.

Mariana was part of the founding team of The International Rescue Committee’s innovation center, Airbel Impact Lab, where she led teams working on the ebola crisis and refugee resettlement across the United States.

 She has been recognized as an IDEO.org Fellow and a TED Resident, with her work on scarcity exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Throughout her career, she has led teams in collaboration with IDEO, WildAid, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Alight, General Electric, and many others.

Mariana serves as Adjunct Professor at the Art Center College of Design and has been a guest lecturer at various institutions, including Berkeley Haas School of Business, Stanford University, Microsoft and IDEO.

Originally from Colombia, Mariana now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son, and numerous foster animals that pass through their home.

TED
Filmed December 2018
New York, NY

TED talk about why human-centered design is a valuable asset in wildlife conservation. Design for Wildlife was born shortly after this talk.

The Young Turks, with Cenk Uygur
Filmed October 2019
Los Angeles, CA

An interview with Cenk Uygur about designing for humanitarian aid and wildlife conservation.

TEDx Caltech
Filmed January 2013
Pasadena, CA

A view of the design process through the lens of a hostage situation.

Based on a true story.

Awards & Recognitions

Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship, 2023
Conservation International

Art Center College of Design, 2021
Young Innovator Award

TED Residency, 2018 & 2019
Hosted at TED HQ

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Exhibit, 2018
Design with the 90%: Improving Lives Around the World

Core 77 Awards, 2016
Best Service Design Award

Cumulus Mumbai, 2015
Co author, Best Paper Award

IDEO.org Global Fellowship, 2013
Shaping the future of social innovation

The Tech Awards, 2012
Young Innovator Award

NASA / JPL Exhibit, 2012
Sea Level Rise Communication Design Exhibit