Empathize
Students will begin the design journey by meeting real people connected to Vietnamese refugee resettlement, surfacing their own assumptions, and conducting firsthand interviews. They will collect direct quotes and observations, then organize their findings into structured empathy maps that will serve as the evidence base for defining meaningful problems in the next phase.
Days 1 - 3
Define
Students will analyze patterns across their Vietnamese refugee interviews and sources, identify shared needs and challenges, and craft a focused, evidence-based "How Might We" problem statement that will guide their exhibition and mural design work.
Days 4 - 6
Ideate
Students will generate a wide range of possible solutions for their interactive timeline slides and exhibition elements, moving from rapid idea generation to selecting and sketching user-centered concepts grounded in real interview evidence about Vietnamese refugee resettlement in California.
Days 7 - 10
Prototype
Students will build, test, and refine low- to higher-fidelity prototypes for their interactive timeline slides and exhibition station elements, using real user feedback to improve clarity, cultural accuracy, and engagement before final production.
Days 11 - 15
Test/Present
Students will conduct a final round of authentic user testing with new visitors, refine their interactive timeline, mural panel, and exhibition station based on documented feedback, and present their full design journey to an authentic audience during a 'Journey Through Time' walk-through event.
Days 16 - 20