If you thought design was just about making things look pretty, think again. In 2025, designers are stepping into the spotlight, not just in fashion and tech, but in politics, pageants, and even the White House. Their stories are as diverse as their work, and each one offers a fresh take on what it means to be a designer in today’s world.
Take Joshuan Aponte, for example. He’s the creative mind behind Miss Puerto Rico’s National Costume for Miss Universe 2025. Aponte’s journey began at home, watching his grandmother in Puerto Rico transform simple school uniforms into unique, eye-catching outfits. That early exposure taught him that creativity isn’t about having the fanciest materials—it’s about making the most of what you have. Fast forward to today, and Aponte is dressing celebrities and pageant queens, but he still carries that lesson with him. His big break came after a dream inspired him to reach out to the Miss Puerto Rico organization on Facebook. That bold move led to his first costume fitting, which he describes as magical: the dress fit perfectly, and the model brought it to life in ways he hadn’t imagined. For Aponte, design is about connection, storytelling, and sometimes, just taking a chance.
Meanwhile, in the tech world, designers are facing a new kind of challenge: the system design interview. Imagine being asked to ‘design TikTok’ in a job interview. Sounds intimidating, right? But according to experts, the key isn’t to panic or dive into technical jargon. Instead, successful candidates use a simple five-step framework: clarify requirements, sketch out components, think about trade-offs, consider scalability, and wrap up with a summary. The best answers aren’t about knowing every coding language—they’re about showing how you think, how you balance speed and cost, and how you connect user needs to technical choices. Whether you’re a product manager or a technical program manager, the goal is to stay calm, structured, and focused on the big picture.
On a larger scale, design is even making its way into government. Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, recently became America’s first Chief Design Officer. In his new role, he’s leading the creation of a National Design Studio, a move that signals a growing recognition of design’s importance in public service. Gebbia believes that good design can make government websites more user-friendly, policies more accessible, and services more effective. It’s a bold step, showing that design isn’t just for startups or fashion houses—it’s for everyone.
And let’s not forget the more playful side of design. Alexander May, a designer known for his collaborations with USM, is bringing back the ‘Big Daddy Desk’—a statement piece that blends functionality with bold aesthetics. For May, design is about creating spaces that inspire and empower, whether it’s a desk for a CEO or a costume for a pageant queen.
What ties these stories together? It’s the idea that design is everywhere, and it’s about more than just looks. It’s about solving problems, telling stories, and making things better for people. Whether you’re designing a national costume, a tech platform, or a government website, the principles are the same: listen, create, and connect.
References:
- https://www.kracd.com/blog/design-tiktok-a-5-step-framework-for-acing-the-system-design-interview-even-if-you-dont-code
- https://octet.design/journal/ui-ux-interview-questions/
- https://remezcla.com/features/culture/interview-designer-joshuan-aponte-creator-designer-miss-puerto-rico-national-costume-miss-universe-2025/
- https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/designer-alexander-may-wants-to-bring-back-the-big-daddy-desk
- https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/18/america-first-chief-design-officer-joe-gebbia-interview/
