Everyone is a designer

In economics, a choice architect is defined as any person who makes decisions that influence the choices other people make in a given scenario.

Your parents, for example, often have a great deal of influence over where you went to college. And your professors might have swayed you in your choice of a major, and by extension, later career. And your physician might be considered an architect for your choices about everything from the meds you take (or don’t) to the surgery or therapy or diet you’ve committed yourself to.

Similarly, the word designer is synonymous with creator. Someone who creates something for someone, or for a specific task. Someone who asks, “what’s it for, who’s it for?” on their way to creating a tangible or experiential thing.

That means you.

The question, then, isn't whether or not you are someone in a position to create something that touches or impacts another person.

The question is are you willing to learn about design thinking and the history of those who have come before you enough to actually make it better.

Anyone who's ever hosted a birthday party or a meetup can learn a thing or two from event planning.

Anyone teaching a class (or crafting a screen) can learn from experience design.

And anyone who creates anything ought to consider adopting a posture and a design methodology built around empathy.