Empathize
Empathize
Students will investigate how peers experience and interpret cultural narratives in art, conduct real interviews, and create evidence-based empathy maps that will ground their later sculpture designs inspired by Charles McGee and African-American history.
Day 1
Define
Define
Students will synthesize peer interview data from their paper sculpture user research into clear, evidence-based problem statements that guide their upcoming design decisions. They will identify patterns across interviews, draft and critique βHow Might Weβ statements grounded in real quotes, and produce a written rationale that becomes the design constraint for their sculpture prototypes and team video.
Day 2
Ideate
Ideate
Students will generate a wide range of sculpture design concepts grounded in user research, then narrow to high-potential ideas that clearly communicate African-American historical narratives through abstraction, pattern, and form.
Day 3
Prototype
Prototype
Students will build and refine testable paper sculpture prototypes inspired by Charles McGee, document user feedback, and revise their designs to more effectively communicate African-American historical narratives through abstraction, pattern, and form.
Day 4
60 min over capacity (45 min available across 1 day)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will validate their refined paper sculptures with a new user, document final feedback-driven adjustments, and present their full design journeyβfrom empathy interviews to prototype iterationsβthrough a public exhibition and multimedia presentation.
Day 5
Empathize
Days 1–1
Day 1
π¨ Design Delve & User Lens Challenge
Launch
15m
π£οΈ Interview Protocol for Cultural Stories
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
π€ Peer Interviews on Art & Identity
Community Experience
15m
π§ Empathy Map: Viewer Experience
Deliverable
5m
Define
Days 2–2
Day 2
π§ From Interview Quotes to Insights
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
π Affinity Mapping Sculpture Feedback
Deliverable
15m
βπΎ Crafting How Might We Statements
Deliverable
12m
π HMW Peer Critique Protocol
Knowledge/Skill Building
8m
Ideate
Days 3–3
Day 3
β‘ 20-Idea Sculpture Sprint
Project Work
15m
π§ Crazy-8s Abstraction Sketches
Project Work
10m
π SCAMPER on Pattern & Form
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
π User-Needs Decision Matrix
Deliverable
5m
ποΈ Concept Storyboard & Interaction Plan
Deliverable
5m
Prototype
Days 4–4
Day 4
ποΈ Refined Sculpture Prototype V2
Project Work
30m
π οΈ Rapid Paper Prototype Build
Project Work
25m
π£οΈ User Testing Rounds & Interview Notes
Deliverable
20m
π Iteration Log & Revision Plan
Deliverable
15m
π€ Team Feedback & Design Alignment
Project Work
15m
Test/Present
Days 5–5
Day 5
π οΈ Final Sculpture Adjustments
Project Work
10m
π£οΈ New User Test & Feedback Capture
Project Work
15m
π₯ Design Story Run-Through
Deliverable
10m
π¨ Culture in Motion Parade
Community Experience
5m
ποΈ Abstract Expressions Presentation
Assessment
5m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
π¨ Design Delve & User Lens Challenge
π£οΈ Interview Protocol for Cultural Stories
π€ Peer Interviews on Art & Identity
π§ Empathy Map: Viewer Experience
29
Day 2
Define
π§ From Interview Quotes to Insights
π Affinity Mapping Sculpture Feedback
βπΎ Crafting How Might We Statements
π HMW Peer Critique Protocol
30
Day 3
Ideate
β‘ 20-Idea Sculpture Sprint
π§ Crazy-8s Abstraction Sketches
π SCAMPER on Pattern & Form
π User-Needs Decision Matrix
ποΈ Concept Storyboard & Interaction Plan
1
Day 4
Prototype
ποΈ Refined Sculpture Prototype V2
π οΈ Rapid Paper Prototype Build
π£οΈ User Testing Rounds & Interview Notes
π Iteration Log & Revision Plan
π€ Team Feedback & Design Alignment
2
Day 5
Test/Present
π οΈ Final Sculpture Adjustments
π£οΈ New User Test & Feedback Capture
π₯ Design Story Run-Through
π¨ Culture in Motion Parade
ποΈ Abstract Expressions Presentation