Students will launch the Koinobori project by engaging directly with real users to understand how cultural symbols communicate meaning during celebrations. Through structured interviews and empathy mapping, they will surface assumptions, gather authentic quotes, and document user needs that will guide their individual carp kite prototypes and future team design decisions.

Students will synthesize their carp kite interview findings into a clear, evidence-based problem definition that identifies a specific user need and frames a focused How Might We question to guide ideation.

Students will generate a wide range of carp kite design possibilities grounded in their user interviews and defined How Might We statements, then narrow to high-potential concepts using user-centered criteria. By the end of the phase, each student will produce annotated concept sketches that clearly connect design features to specific cultural symbolism and real user insights.

Students will build and refine testable carp kite prototypes using recycled materials, document user feedback from peers and invited guests, and revise their designs to better reflect cultural symbolism, structural integrity, and user-centered storytelling before final presentation.

Students will conduct a final validation of their carp kite designs with new viewers, refine their communication materials, and present their design journey at a public cultural exhibition that connects user research, symbolism, sustainability, and iteration.