Students will launch the Portraits of Impact project by engaging with real users to understand how representation in art shapes perceptions of Black history and identity. Through direct interviews and structured empathy mapping, they will gather authentic evidence that will ground their future portrait designs in real community perspectives.

Students will synthesize their interview research about representation in art into a clear, evidence-based problem definition that will guide the design of their Kehinde Wiley-inspired portraits and exhibition decisions.

Students will generate a wide range of Kehinde Wiley–inspired portrait concepts grounded in user interview insights and their 'How Might We' statements, then evaluate and select the strongest ideas based on how well they meet real viewer needs before moving into prototyping.

Students will build and refine low- and higher-fidelity Kehinde Wiley-inspired portrait prototypes, test them with real users, and document how feedback shapes revisions before creating a stronger final version for exhibition.

Students will validate their refined Kehinde Wiley-inspired portraits and exhibition installations with new users, make final evidence-based adjustments, and present their full design journey—from interviews and empathy maps to final artwork and iteration—to an authentic audience at the Portraits of Impact exhibition.