Empathize
Students will listen to lived-experience stories, study local context, and create an initial evidence-based response that begins the design process for a refugee-centered art exhibit.
Days 1 - 2
🎧 Lens and Voice Kickoff
Launch 45m
πŸ—ΊοΈ Story Evidence Map
Deliverable 45m
Define
Students will sort interview notes, first-response pieces, and library-based evidence into themes, then use those patterns to write and refine a clear problem statement that will guide an exhibit piece about refugee experiences and resilience in Northeast Columbia.
Days 3 - 4
🧩 Affinity Map from Refugee Stories
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
πŸ“ Problem Statement and Peer Tuning
Deliverable 45m
Ideate
Students will generate multiple exhibit concepts from their interview notes, research summaries, and problem statements, then use peer critique and evidence-based selection tools to choose one promising direction for a refugee-focused art piece or storytelling concept.
Days 5 - 7
🎨 Photo-Poem Concept Sprint
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
πŸ—£οΈ Storyboard Feedback Carousel
Project Work 45m
πŸ“Œ Exhibit Direction Decision Board
Deliverable 45m
Draft
Students will translate earlier empathy, research, and problem-framing work into first prototypes for the library exhibit by studying effective composition and artist statement moves, building a draft piece in a chosen medium, participating in a structured peer critique, and revising toward a prototype packet that can be tested in the next phase.
Days 8 - 11
πŸ–ΌοΈ Composition and Artist Statement Mini-Studio
Knowledge/Skill Building 35m
🎨 Prototype Build for Exhibit Piece
Project Work 45m
πŸ’¬ Gallery Walk on Draft Pieces
Deliverable 45m
πŸ“ Revised Prototype Packet Checkpoint
Assessment 45m
Test
Students will test draft photo-poems, portraits, and storytelling pieces with peers and community-connected users, capture evidence-based feedback about clarity, empathy, and audience understanding, and decide what revisions are needed before the next critique phase.
Days 12 - 14
🧭 Feedback Protocols for Exhibit Drafts
Knowledge/Skill Building 35m
πŸ—£οΈ Peer Test of Photo-Poems
Deliverable 45m
πŸ›οΈ Library User Response Check
Community Experience 45m
Critique
Students will use structured critique protocols to evaluate draft photo-poems, portraits, and storytelling pieces for accuracy, empathy, artistic impact, and alignment to the exhibit purpose, then revise their work using evidence from peer and community-facing feedback.
Days 15 - 17
🧭 Critique Criteria for Artist Statements
Knowledge/Skill Building 35m
πŸ–ΌοΈ Photo-Poem Peer Critique Round
Deliverable 50m
✏️ Revision Plan and Second Pass
Project Work 45m
Notice & Reflect
Students will present their finished exhibit work to an authentic audience, analyze how research and feedback shaped their artistic decisions, and document growth in empathy, communication, collaboration, and design thinking through a final artist statement and reflection panel.
Days 18 - 20
πŸ–ΌοΈ Library Exhibit Walkthrough
Community Experience 45m
🎀 Reflection Panel Rehearsal Notes
Deliverable 45m
πŸ“ Artist Statement and Growth Panel
Assessment 45m