Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Designers are uniquely equipped to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. With the ability to think expansively, empathize deeply, and make sense of complex challenges, designers are naturally wired to develop solutions that can drive real change. In "Widening the Margins of Design," we explore how designers can expand their impact, stepping beyond traditional design roles to address systemic issues at a societal level. As founders of UX for Good, we have guided teams of designers in creating innovative solutions for some of the toughest social challenges—from homelessness and genocide to public education and pediatric cancer. These experiences have confirmed for us that when designers stretch beyond conventional constraints, they can design extraordinary outcomes. We advocate for a shift in perspective: moving designers from a focus on small-scale improvements to a role where they craft new realities and lead transformative change. Our talk will highlight how designers can harness their unique strengths to create solutions that respect and respond to their contexts.
Our talk will focus on:
Demonstrating how designers can move from the edges to the center of problem-solving for society. Sharing case studies from UX for Good to illustrate the profound impact designers can have on social change. Inspiring designers to think bigger—beyond interfaces and products, to systems and societies.
Attendee Takeaways:
- A new perspective on the expansive potential of designers to address complex challenges.
- Strategies for applying design thinking to systemic issues and driving impactful solutions.
- Inspiration to pursue high-impact projects that aim for meaningful societal transformation.
Join us to discover how you, as a designer, can play a vital role in solving the world’s biggest challenges and shaping a better future for all.
Jeff Leitner, Founder, UX for Good
Jason Ulaszek, Founder, UX for Good
Related video: The Aftershow: David Colby Reed, Systems Designer - youtu.be/BU2mUWwMww4
Designers are uniquely equipped to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. With the ability to think expansively, empathize deeply, and make sense of complex challenges, designers are naturally wired to develop solutions that can drive real change. In "Widening the Margins of Design," we explore how designers can expand their impact, stepping beyond traditional design roles to address systemic issues at a societal level. As founders of UX for Good, we have guided teams of designers in creating innovative solutions for some of the toughest social challenges—from homelessness and genocide to public education and pediatric cancer. These experiences have confirmed for us that when designers stretch beyond conventional constraints, they can design extraordinary outcomes. We advocate for a shift in perspective: moving designers from a focus on small-scale improvements to a role where they craft new realities and lead transformative change. Our talk will highlight how designers can harness their unique strengths to create solutions that respect and respond to their contexts.
Our talk will focus on:
Demonstrating how designers can move from the edges to the center of problem-solving for society. Sharing case studies from UX for Good to illustrate the profound impact designers can have on social change. Inspiring designers to think bigger—beyond interfaces and products, to systems and societies.
Attendee Takeaways:
- A new perspective on the expansive potential of designers to address complex challenges.
- Strategies for applying design thinking to systemic issues and driving impactful solutions.
- Inspiration to pursue high-impact projects that aim for meaningful societal transformation.
Join us to discover how you, as a designer, can play a vital role in solving the world’s biggest challenges and shaping a better future for all.
Jeff Leitner, Founder, UX for Good
Jason Ulaszek, Founder, UX for Good
Related video: The Aftershow: David Colby Reed, Systems Designer - youtu.be/BU2mUWwMww4
