● My theory is that designers should live and work as stewards of interconnected
systems, guided by humility and responsibility. Taking actions as soon as
possible because things won’t change as it stays the same and saying obvious
things. You telling yourself you will do this doesn’t mean you will take action or
just forget in a few minutes.
● As designers today, we need to learn how to create systems that inspire people
to be part of as to how people would like to care about it. People usually don’t
care about something until it directly affects them, and every day countless
incidents happen. The way designers give reasons is key: thinking systematically
about how to move ideas into the larger system. The system can’t be changed all
at once. During COVID, when everything shut down, we had no counterbalance.
At that time, when everyone stayed home worrying about infection, the company
that delivered all our packages was Amazon. Even though workers were not into
it, because of them we were able to remain in our homes. Change has to happen
one step at a time, without rushing. It is crucial for designers to manage systems
carefully, without breaking them. A bad system cannot remain stable, while a
productive system can adapt under any circumstances.

  ● Within the system, individuals can contribute what they can for their own sake. Roles and responsibilities can be picked up whenever possible, while jobs often force us to earn money just to stay in them. Jobs can be tiring and unreasonable, but roles can also be demanding. Roles can be chosen except whenever you feel like picking it up; they are not mandatory, but you can decide to take them on. For example, being a designer is a role for me, not just a job. I can earn money from it, but designing is the reason I chose this major in the first place. It’s not about money. It’s about the feeling of creating something that shifts my perspective, unlike computer science work after graduation. Creativity lives in all of us, but those who never stop thinking about it can truly understand why. As for myself, I can't assure being a designer is my job but as a designer I focus on what I can do right now. Writing this manifesto for you to read is part of that. It’s my job as a student to complete homework and submit it on Canvas, but my role is to carry the identity of being a student and that’s what I do.
● Designers contribute to the habit loop by identifying cues that trigger
decision-making. They design routines that can be repeated over and over.
Finally, they create rewards so that everyone feels their contributions matter. Like video games, which are fun for my generation, the habit loop makes sense:
games are enjoyable because they can be played daily, and different genres
capture attention depending on personal preference. It’s a loop that motivates
continued play. People who design video games probably studied many of the
same concepts I’ve learned in this class as a designer. Games are productive
and fun, unlike classes that can sometimes feel boring or fail to capture attention.
They distribute time and investment, which is why people spend entire days
staring at screens.
● The education system could include video games as a system of education.
Since it makes more sense people use and matter everything online. The
matter-of-fact video games can improve the mind of a kid by improving their
minds and creativity. My personality is somewhat inspired by the tons of video
games that I played in the past. Can also alienate my actions by stepping outside
my comfort zone. If we keep falling into our comfort zone that doesn’t mean
anything. Because the definition’s real power is born from its fearlessness and a
willingness to alienate. It’s not crazy to go out of the norms to think of ideas that
could be different from the entire system. That's what makes it stand out as well;
that’s good design takes to become timeless. It’s essential to think like this to
make people more engaged.
● I would like to work on a magazine for my manifesto or perhaps create a short
film about it. Not by simply talking about it, but by showing how the manifesto can be expressed through my skills and shared with the world. A magazine that could be read as a graphic novel by simply showing my creativity through the art of my drawing. The short film might take the form of a comedy. I would like to create a short film before stepping into the work force. In this short film, I want to capture the idea that the climate is changing every day. Everything is changing. It won’t wait for you, and you can’t wait for it. Since the time I started this class this semester, I’ll put my ideas into a mock movie poster that combines artificial intelligence for myself to experiment with it. If I have time to make it into a short film, including AI could set me apart from other filmmakers. It’s a role I want to create and rely on. Even if it doesn’t look as polished as other student films could be, I know it could still be part of the habit loop and part of the system. I’m simply taking a step forward toward the goal everyone has been waiting for.

After reading Dylan Schleicher’s The Regenerative Life: A Non-Heroic Approach to Change, I
found myself reflecting deeply on the difference between jobs and roles, and how I show up in
both life and work. Schleicher emphasizes that meaningful change does not require heroism or
dramatic gestures. Instead, it comes from steady and intentional living over time.
This made me think about how I engage with my roles. For example, as a student, I usually
complete my homework on time and study before tests. I am motivated to graduate, and in my
mind, that is what it means to fulfill the role of a student. But when I think about having a job, I
honestly cannot picture it. The idea of working in something I am not passionate about makes
me want to avoid thinking about it altogether. After college, society expects you to find a job
because that is considered the normal path. It often feels like there is no real choice.
If I reflect on what I can do right now, I want to focus on something that feels impactful in the
present. Since I will probably be graduating soon after this class, I have been thinking a lot
about what feels personal and meaningful to me. I do not want to fit neatly into any predefined
category. I just want to be myself.
To me, the difference between a job and a role is that a job is something you are obligated to do,
even when you do not want to. If you are not feeling motivated, the job still pressures you to
perform, or you risk losing it. Roles, on the other hand, feel more flexible. They depend on the
responsibilities I choose to take on, not ones that are forced onto me. That is how I would
describe it.
I want to be an initiator. That role sounds exciting to me. According to Schleicher, initiators are
part of the group that builds growth and development, especially relevant for designers. That is
something I would love to pursue. I am really interested in creating designs, even using AI, that
could help shape a more adaptable and thoughtful future.