What could this have to do with design?

I've noticed recently that whenever people find out I study Interior Design a common reaction is 'oh that sounds like fun!' and don't get me wrong it is, but people assume its all wallpaper and cushions, which most home owners do on a regular basis, why would we need a degree for it? I'm not saying that people ridicule interior design to my face, but after sharing a flat last year with people on more academic courses, medics, lawyers, business studies students etc.... You sometimes do get a feeling people dont take it too seriously. Although my old flatmates are probably going to save lifes, win world changing lawsuits and build multi-national companies, okay maybe im being a little too optimistic on their behalf but im sure they will do some pretty amazing things with their lives. But whose to say that as interior designers we won't too? Its not all picking a colour and a nice pattern to match, we can really make a mark in the world too.
An interesting example of organisations doing just this is Project H Design.


Mission Statement:

Design initiatives for Humanity, Habitats, Health, and Happiness.

Project H uses the power of the design process to catalyze communities and public education from within. We are a team of designers and builders engaging in our own backyards to improve the quality of life for all. Our six-tenet design process (There is no design without (critical) action; We design WITH, not FOR; We document, share and measure; We start locally and scale globally; We design systems, not stuff; We build) results in simple and effective design solutions that empower communities and build collective creative capital. Our specific focus is the re-thinking of environments, products, experiences, and curricula for K-12 education institutions in the US, including design/build Studio H high school program in the Bertie County School District, North Carolina.

WE BELIEVE DESIGN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

In our first lecture for design studies we were asked to not think "Whats this got to do with design?" but "what could this have to do with design? People behind organisations like the Project H Design are asking this question finding wats to make design, fix, help and stop problems. Every single person out there can
find ways of changing the world, whether it be interior designers, doctors or plumbers, small steps from everyone working together will make a big impact. I'm very aware of this whole post sounding very pompous and a little bit Barack Obama-ish, but i'm not writing this expecting any person who reads it will jump out their seats and say I must go change the world through design!!!! Its just proving a point that it is possible!