Empathize
Students will launch the shelter dog adoption project by experiencing the local need, examining how dog traits and behavior affect adoption matches, and recording first-round empathy evidence that will guide later problem statements and design work.
Day 1
Define
Students will sort evidence from shelter observations, vet input, and adopter needs to write a clear How Might We problem statement that names a real matching challenge, includes constraints, and sets up the next round of idea generation.
Day 2
Ideate
Students will turn their shelter observations, breed-trait research, and How Might We statements into multiple adoption-tool ideas, then choose one evidence-based direction to carry into drafting.
Day 3
Draft
Students will turn their selected adoption ideas into first-draft tools by building a testable personality test or QR-coded breed/care profile, using shelter evidence and prior How Might We statements to shape design decisions. They will create visible prototype artifacts and revise them after a structured peer feedback round so the next phase can focus on testing with users.
Days 4 - 5
Test
Students will test their draft adoption tools with peers, gather structured evidence about usability and match quality, and record specific revisions they need to make before critique.
Day 6
Critique
Students will use a structured critique protocol to evaluate their adoption personality tests, QR-coded breed cards, and care profiles, then record specific revisions they will make before the final showcase.
Day 7
Notice & Reflect
Students will document what they learned from shelter observations, design iterations, and community feedback, then share their final adoption tools and timelines through a brief Forever Home Fair-style gallery walk reflection that identifies evidence of growth and responsible next steps.
Day 8