The continuously changing world enables us to explore never-before avenues through the creation of products, services, technologies and more. Navigating this ever-changing landscape can be especially difficult when considering an individual’s role in this dynamic environment. Whilst education traditionally aims to equip us with fundamental skills needed to thrive and survive in society, it often falls short in guiding personal and professional development effectively [2]. The absence of standardized career orientation programs across different educational levels and systems leads to varied approaches in supporting students [1], resulting in mistakes that significantly impact individuals and society at large, such as choosing the wrong study or career path [3]. I firmly believe that as designers, we could offer substantial support in the domain of personal and professional development. Our ability to merge individual and collective needs allows us to design tailor-made solutions, addressing real difficulties and challenges faced by individuals within educational systems. Adopting a user-centered approach helps us to further understand the root of the problem and hone down what is really needed in order to create an effective solution for everyone involved. As a society we should aim for the development of the self but the key is to have a good support systems in place, which is where we as designers should come in.

Seeing the world through a user lens allows us to fully focus on understanding who it is we are really designing solutions for. It creates a strong foundation to build from which will not only result in better overall user experiences but will also add more value in the work that we create. Within the educational domain, having a deep understanding of the ecosystem and its stakeholders is vital for the development of impactful tools. As designers, it should be our responsibility to consistently contribute value and purpose to the world through our work, ensuring that the educational tools we create genuinely benefit users. Many educational tools often miss the mark, lacking a perspective from students, teachers or other stakeholders involved. This oversight results in lots of wasted potential. Taking the time to thoroughly understand the user’s experiences allows me, as well as other designers, to create solutions that resonate on a personal level with all stakeholders involved.  

As a designer, my motivation stems from taking a user-centered approach to craft new products or services that are able to facilitate societal change, particularly in education. The essence of design, for me, lies in creating real value and purpose with my work by guiding and supporting individuals in their personal and professional development across education levels and even the workplace. This highlights the crucial role of understanding who and what we design for because without this understanding, solving real problems remains illusory.