Empathize
Students will launch the greenhouse zen garden challenge, investigate how the greenhouse currently functions for plants and people, and gather firsthand user evidence about wellness needs, calming preferences, and space-use habits to prepare for a strong problem statement in the next phase.
Days 1 - 2
Define
Students will synthesize greenhouse data and stakeholder evidence into a focused problem statement that names the user, need, constraints, and design opportunity for a greenhouse zen garden that supports both plant health and student well-being.
Days 3 - 4
Ideate
Students will generate multiple greenhouse zen garden concepts, compare them against plant-science evidence and user needs, and choose a promising direction to carry into prototyping.
Days 5 - 7
Draft
Students will translate selected zen garden concepts into evidence-based greenhouse prototypes by applying plant science, calming-space design principles, and user-centered criteria. They will build and document early models, gather structured peer and expert feedback, and revise their draft concepts before moving into formal testing.
Days 8 - 11
Test
Students will run structured tests on their greenhouse zen garden drafts, gather evidence from peers and community partners, compare user feedback with plant-condition data, and document revisions that strengthen both plant health and student well-being.
Days 12 - 14
Critique
Students will use structured peer and partner critique to evaluate their greenhouse zen garden prototypes, document evidence-based revisions, and strengthen how well their designs support both plant health and student well-being.
Days 15 - 16
Notice & Reflect
Students will document how their greenhouse zen garden design changed through evidence, feedback, and testing, then present the finished space and communication pieces to an authentic audience while reflecting on scientific learning, wellness impact, and next steps for care and improvement.
Days 17 - 18