Synthesize & Define
Synthesize & Define
Students will launch the project, organize what they know from City of Ember and sustainability research, define a community-centered problem, and create a team design brief with feedback and revision before a milestone check.
Days 1 - 6
Ideate Multiple Concepts
Ideate Multiple Concepts
Students will generate several different solution ideas for a community need connected to City of Ember and a chosen Sustainable Development Goal, use evidence and user needs to critique those ideas, and select one direction to carry into prototyping with documented reasons, revisions, and risks.
Days 7 - 12
Prototype & Showcase
Prototype & Showcase
Students will build and test low-fidelity solution prototypes, gather user-centered feedback, revise their ideas through two documented iteration cycles, and prepare a concise digital prototype showcase that explains how evidence from City of Ember, nonfiction research, and user feedback shaped their design choices.
Days 13 - 18
Showcase
Showcase
Students will present their final digital sustainability solutions to an authentic audience, use audience and peer feedback to strengthen how they communicate their ideas, and complete a final reflection that explains how evidence from City of Ember, nonfiction research, and design revision shaped their work.
Days 19 - 21
Launch
Launch
Students will enter the project through an immersive challenge, connect early ideas from City of Ember to community sustainability issues, and set collaborative routines that prepare them for later research, discussion, and design work.
Days 22 - 24
Research & Plan
Research & Plan
Students will gather user and text-based evidence, organize what they learned about community needs and sustainability issues, and create planning artifacts that prepare them for a strong digital showcase and individual written explanation.
Days 25 - 30
Synthesize & Define
Days 1–6
Day 1
π‘ Ember Alert and SDG Sort
Launch
50m
Day 2
π Theme and Character Evidence Tracker
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 3
ποΈ Notes to Needs Clusters
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 4
βοΈ Team Rules and HMW Draft
Deliverable
50m
Day 5
πΌοΈ Design Brief Gallery Walk
Project Work
45m
Day 6
β
Design Brief Checkpoint
Assessment
50m
Ideate Multiple Concepts
Days 7–12
Day 7
π§ Need-to-Idea Design Studio
Launch
50m
Day 8
π― Criteria and Constraints Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 9
π£οΈ Two-Peer Concept Feedback
Deliverable
50m
Day 10
βοΈ Storyboard and Message Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 11
π§ͺ User Test Role-Play Round
Project Work
50m
Day 12
β
Concept Decision Brief
Assessment
50m
Prototype & Showcase
Days 13–18
Day 13
π§ Prototype Feedback Notes
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 14
π οΈ Low-Fidelity Ember Prototype
Project Work
50m
Day 15
π₯ Peer Test and Revision Round
Deliverable
50m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
21
Day 1
Synthesize & Define
π‘ Ember Alert and SDG Sort
22
Day 2
π Theme and Character Evidence Tracker
23
Day 3
ποΈ Notes to Needs Clusters
24
Day 4
βοΈ Team Rules and HMW Draft
25
Day 5
πΌοΈ Design Brief Gallery Walk
28
Day 6
β
Design Brief Checkpoint
29
Day 7
Ideate Multiple Concepts
π§ Need-to-Idea Design Studio
30
Day 8
π― Criteria and Constraints Sort
1
Day 9
π£οΈ Two-Peer Concept Feedback
2
Day 10
βοΈ Storyboard and Message Moves
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 11
π§ͺ User Test Role-Play Round
6
Day 12
β
Concept Decision Brief
7
Day 13
Prototype & Showcase
π§ Prototype Feedback Notes
8
Day 14
π οΈ Low-Fidelity Ember Prototype
9
Day 15
π₯ Peer Test and Revision Round