Empathize
Empathize
Students will investigate how air pressure affects everyday objects by engaging in a live can-crushing demonstration, identifying real users impacted by pressure-related damage, and conducting structured interviews to uncover authentic needs. They will document quotes and observations and translate them into empathy maps that ground the next phaseโs problem definition in real evidence.
Day 1
Define
Define
Students will synthesize their user interviews about pressure-related object damage into clear, evidence-based problem statements that guide the design of protective systems and pressure demonstrations. They will identify patterns across multiple users, draft and critique 'How Might We' statements, and produce a grounded design brief to anchor ideation in the next phase.
Day 2
Prototype
Prototype
Students will build, test, and refine low- and medium-fidelity pressure-protection prototypes grounded in real user needs. They will document testing protocols, collect feedback from users outside their team, and revise their designs based on evidence, producing an iteration log that traces changes back to specific user insights and data.
Day 4
45 min over capacity (45 min available across 1 day)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will validate their refined pressure-protection systems with a new user, analyze final feedback, and present their full design journeyโfrom user research through iterationโto an authentic audience at the Air Pressure Science Fair.
Day 5
45 min over capacity (45 min available across 1 day)
Empathize
Days 1–1
Day 1
๐ User Interview Notes & Quotes
Deliverable
10m
๐ Pressure Power Play Kickoff
Launch
10m
๐ง Interviewing for Pressure Stories
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
๐ฅ Peer Interview Practice Round
Project Work
10m
Define
Days 2–2
Day 2
๐ง Affinity Mapping User Quotes
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
๐ From Themes to Insights
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
โ๏ธ How Might We Drafts
Deliverable
10m
๐ HMW Peer Critique Protocol
Deliverable
5m
๐ Pressure Protection Design Brief
Assessment
5m
Ideate
Days 3–3
Day 3
โก 15-in-15 Pressure Ideas
Deliverable
15m
๐ SCAMPER on Air Systems
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
๐ User-Weighted Decision Matrix
Deliverable
10m
โ๏ธ Annotated Concept Storyboards
Deliverable
10m
Prototype
Days 4–4
Day 4
๐งฐ Rapid Egg Protection Mockup
Deliverable
25m
๐งช Pressure Test & Feedback Round
Deliverable
20m
๐ Iteration Plan & Redesign Sketch
Deliverable
25m
๐๏ธ Reinforced Prototype Build
Project Work
20m
Test/Present
Days 5–5
Day 5
๐งช New User Prototype Test
Project Work
20m
๐ Design Storyboard Planning
Deliverable
25m
๐ค Air Pressure Science Fair Presentation
Assessment
45m
April 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
20
Day 1
Empathize
๐ User Interview Notes & Quotes
๐ Pressure Power Play Kickoff
๐ง Interviewing for Pressure Stories
๐ฅ Peer Interview Practice Round
21
Day 2
Define
๐ง Affinity Mapping User Quotes
๐ From Themes to Insights
โ๏ธ How Might We Drafts
๐ HMW Peer Critique Protocol
๐ Pressure Protection Design Brief
22
Day 3
Ideate
โก 15-in-15 Pressure Ideas
๐ SCAMPER on Air Systems
๐ User-Weighted Decision Matrix
โ๏ธ Annotated Concept Storyboards
23
Day 4
Prototype
๐งฐ Rapid Egg Protection Mockup
๐งช Pressure Test & Feedback Round
๐ Iteration Plan & Redesign Sketch
๐๏ธ Reinforced Prototype Build
24
Day 5
Test/Present
๐งช New User Prototype Test
๐ Design Storyboard Planning
๐ค Air Pressure Science Fair Presentation