Reflection
It is amazing to me how much wealth the first world has accumulated, and in contrast how impoverished other places in the world are. There are complex reasons for various injustices, but I think this type of design thinking can help open up the flow of resources. On the other hand, I have read some criticisms of this “Design Will Save the World” trend. Most of them have to do with Western designers trying to prescribe a solution to a third world problem that they don’t fully understand. The designers haven’t taken the time to understand the cultural context of the problem, and they end up designing a “Western” solution to a non-Western problem. I think as a new designer who would love to do humanitarian work, it would be very easy to develop an ignorant, know-it-all attitude. I think if I somehow get the opportunity to somehow “change the world,” or at least work outside of my home culture, I want to be very careful to develop sensitivity and listening skills so that any solutions I may come up with really work.