“Martha’s polishing the brass on the Titanic.”
— Palahniuk, C. (Fight Club, 1996).

I like to think of myself as a pornographer of possibilities.

What role do we as designers play in our society?

Designing things?

Yes, to design things. Not more, not less.

But what is the reasoning behind it? I would say: to make things needed as good as possible, in order to benefit those who need them / use them.

@SaveGirl101: Who asked you this question and to what end? Is this a personal or academic project?

Try looking at:

Berman, D. B. (2009). Do good design. How designers can change the world. Berkely, California: Peachpit.

In addition, you’ll find you get a better response to broad questions like this if you provide specific examples of what you’ve come so far, where you’ve looked, and why you are asking the question. A straight out question from a profile that’s hours old has the potential to come across as a little bit of “do my homework.”

SaveGirl101, you mention "leadership" in your subject title but don't mention it again in your question. Are you asking if designers should be leaders in society? And what type of designers are you referring to -- type designers, graphic designers, designers at ad agencies, or what? Please clarify. Thanks.