Empathize
Empathize
Students will immerse themselves in preschool settings, observe children's play and interview teachers to gather insights into educational needs, laying the foundation for a design challenge that addresses specific classroom problems.
Days 1 - 10
Define
Define
Students will synthesize insights from their preschool immersion experiences to define the specific problem their 3D-printed educational toy aims to solve, transforming their observations and feedback into clear, actionable design criteria for the next phase.
Days 11 - 20
Ideate
Ideate
Students will participate in brainstorming sessions to generate diverse toy design ideas, drawing from their observations and feedback gathered during the empathy and definition phases, while collaborating with peers and experts to refine concepts that align with preschool educational needs.
Days 21 - 30
Prototype
Prototype
Students will construct low-fidelity prototypes of their preschool educational toys using CAD software, iteratively refining designs with feedback from community partners, peers, and mentors to ensure aesthetic and functional alignment for real-world preschool trials.
Days 31 - 40
Test
Test
Students will conduct user feedback sessions with preschoolers and teachers, analyze responses to their 3D-printed prototypes, make data-driven design improvements, and document their iterative process in reflection journals.
Days 41 - 50
Empathize
Days 1–10
Day 1
Observation and Inspiration Day
Launch
120m
Day 2
Day 3
Reflection Workshop
Activity
60m
Day 4
Brainstorming Strategies Session
Activity
45m
Day 5
Peer Feedback and Insights Exchange
Deliverable
45m
Day 6
Observation Reflection Writing
Activity
45m
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Observation Insights Presentation
Assessment
Define
Days 11–20
Day 11
Problem Definition Workshop
Activity
60m
Day 12
Design Criteria Development Session
Activity
60m
Day 13
Peer Feedback Roundtable
Deliverable
50m
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Self-Reflective Blogging
Deliverable
45m
Day 17
Teacher Conference
Deliverable
60m
Day 18
Mock Presentation Rehearsals
Deliverable
45m
Day 19
Day 20
Design Reflection Portfolio Submission
Assessment
Ideate
Days 21–30
Day 21
Introductory Brainstorming Session
Launch
60m
Day 22
Peer Collaboration Workshop
Activity
45m
Day 23
Expert Consultation Session
Activity
60m
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Toy Design Storyboard Creation
Activity
45m
Day 29
Preparation for Final Presentation
Deliverable
60m
Day 30
Toy Design Presentation
Assessment
Prototype
Days 31–40
Day 31
Prototype Launch and Exploration
Launch
45m
Day 32
CAD Design Build Session
Activity
60m
Day 33
Peer Feedback and Iteration Workshop
Deliverable
45m
Day 34
Iterative Design Refinement
Activity
60m
Day 35
Community Partner Feedback Roundtable
Activity
60m
Day 36
Reflective Design Journals
Deliverable
45m
Day 37
Prototype Testing Simulation
Activity
60m
Day 38
Day 39
Final Prototype Presentation Practice
Deliverable
45m
CAD Prototype Evaluation Presentation
Assessment
Day 40
Test
Days 41–50
Day 41
User Feedback Session Introduction
Launch
45m
Day 42
Day 43
Day 44
Prototype Redesign and Iteration
Activity
90m
Day 45
Interactive Peer Review Session
Deliverable
60m
Day 46
Day 47
Prototype Testing with New Audiences
Activity
75m
Day 48
Final Presentation Preparation
Activity
60m
Day 49
Reflection Journal Completion
Deliverable
45m
Day 50
Final Prototype Presentation
Assessment
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
26
Day 1
Empathize
Observation and Inspiration Day
27
Day 2
28
Day 3
Reflection Workshop
29
Day 4
Brainstorming Strategies Session
30
Day 5
Peer Feedback and Insights Exchange
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 6
Observation Reflection Writing
3
Day 7
4
Day 8
5
Day 9
6
Day 10
Observation Insights Presentation
9
Day 11
Define
Problem Definition Workshop
10
Day 12
Design Criteria Development Session
11
Day 13
Peer Feedback Roundtable
12
Day 14
13
Day 15
16
Day 16
Self-Reflective Blogging
17
Day 17
Teacher Conference
18
Day 18
Mock Presentation Rehearsals
19
Day 19
20
Day 20
Design Reflection Portfolio Submission
23
Day 21
Ideate
Introductory Brainstorming Session
24
Day 22
Peer Collaboration Workshop
25
Day 23
Expert Consultation Session
26
Day 24
27
Day 25
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
30
Day 26
1
Day 27
2
Day 28
Toy Design Storyboard Creation
3
Day 29
Preparation for Final Presentation
4
Day 30
Toy Design Presentation
7
Day 31
Prototype
Prototype Launch and Exploration
8
Day 32
CAD Design Build Session
9
Day 33
Peer Feedback and Iteration Workshop
10
Day 34
Iterative Design Refinement
11
Day 35
Community Partner Feedback Roundtable
14
Day 36
Reflective Design Journals
15
Day 37
Prototype Testing Simulation
16
Day 38
17
Day 39
Final Prototype Presentation Practice
CAD Prototype Evaluation Presentation
18
Day 40
21
Day 41
Test
User Feedback Session Introduction
22
Day 42
23
Day 43
24
Day 44
Prototype Redesign and Iteration
25
Day 45
Interactive Peer Review Session
28
Day 46
29
Day 47
Prototype Testing with New Audiences
30
Day 48
Final Presentation Preparation
31
Day 49
Reflection Journal Completion
1
Day 50
Final Prototype Presentation