Students will investigate the cultural meaning of Diwali through direct conversations with real people, surface their own assumptions, and create structured empathy maps grounded in quotes and observations. These research artifacts will anchor later problem definition and design decisions.

Students will synthesize their Diwali user interviews into clear, evidence-based problem definitions that guide the design of their individual diya prototypes and team interactive Rangoli installation focused on the theme 'Light Over Darkness.'

Students will generate a wide range of creative, user-centered concepts for their Diwali-inspired art solutions, using structured brainstorming and decision-making protocols to move from divergent to convergent thinking. They will ground all ideas in real user needs identified in earlier phases and produce concept sketches that directly inform the next phase of prototyping.

Students will build low- and medium-fidelity prototypes of their Diwali-inspired solutions, test them with real users, document feedback, and revise their designs to better communicate cultural symbolism and the theme 'Light Over Darkness.'

Students will validate their refined Diwali-inspired prototypes and interactive Rangoli installation with new users, document final feedback, and present their full design journey—from user research to iteration—during the Art Walk of Light exhibition.