The Big Question(s) ... What is the role of a designer, and how can we help make the world a better place?

I recently read an article that quoted Philip Stark as saying that he was looking for a new line of work, since he felt that everything he had ever done was so "unnecessary" ...

For far too long, design has been seen as one of the tools of business; a way for people that are selling things to make people want the things they are selling ... when we think of design, we think of logos, products, advertisements, and consumerism—

what we need to do is to start thinking of design in terms of problem solving, communication, and sustainability.

I have been interested for quite some time in "redefining" the practice of design, particularly my own medium of graphic design, but this shift seems more necessary now than ever.

So, how do we go about redefining the role of a designer? It seems to me that that will be an ongoing process, rather than a one line answer, but let's start at the beginning with a bit of a checklist:

For whom do we work?

Who benefits from the work we do?

Is what we design useful? necessary?

and if not, does it improve the world on a more esoteric level?

Let's start there ... On the next project that I do, I will begin the design process with these questions, and then report on how it changes the project. Please let me know your thoughts, and additional questions you would like to add to the list...