Empathize
Empathize
Students will conduct empathy interviews with new students to uncover their experiences and challenges, recording insights to inform the development of their mobile app prototype.
Days 1 - 3
Define
Define
Students will collaboratively analyze the insights gathered from user interviews and the 'Empathy Walkthrough,' distilling these findings into a clear, concise problem statement that will guide their design process.
Days 4 - 6
Ideate
Ideate
Students will engage in collaborative brainstorming sessions to generate a wide array of innovative app features that reflect their understanding of school culture, ensuring diverse user needs are addressed through creative ideation processes.
Days 7 - 10
Prototype
Prototype
Students will construct and refine high-fidelity mobile app prototypes by integrating interactive maps and resource guides, utilizing peer feedback and collaborative problem-solving to ensure the app effectively communicates school culture and layout to new students.
Days 11 - 15
15 min over capacity (225 min available across 5 days)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will conduct live testing sessions with new students, refine their app based on feedback, and present their finalized high-fidelity mobile app prototypes to an audience of peers, teachers, and community stakeholders, showcasing how effectively it communicates the school's culture and layout.
Days 16 - 20
35 min over capacity (225 min available across 5 days)
Empathize
Days 1–3
Day 1
Meet New Students
Launch
60m
Day 2
Design Empathy Interview Protocols
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 3
User Research Artifacts
Deliverable
Define
Days 4–6
Day 4
Synthesize Interviews into POV Statements
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 5
Draft Initial Wireframes for Maps
Project Work
60m
Day 6
POV and HMW Pack
Deliverable
Ideate
Days 7–10
Day 7
Create User Personas From Interviews
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 8
Peer Critique of Wireframe Concepts
Project Work
50m
Day 9
Prototype Revision for Culture Map
Project Work
60m
Day 10
Top Concepts Pack
Deliverable
Prototype
Days 11–15
Day 11
Synthesize Interview Insights into Personas
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 12
Guided Heuristics for App Usability
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 13
Mid-Project Wireframe Critique Panel Workshop
Project Work
60m
Day 14
Iteration Planning for Prototype Refinement
Project Work
60m
Day 15
Prototype Iteration Log
Deliverable
User Testing Report
Deliverable
Test/Present
Days 16–20
Day 16
Synthesize Feedback from Live Testing
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 17
Conduct Live Testing and Iteration
Project Work
60m
Day 18
Refine Prototype for Final Presentation
Project Work
50m
Day 19
Prototype Iteration Sprint
Launch
90m
Day 20
App Prototype Showcase
Assessment
Final Prototype Presentation
Deliverable
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Empathize
Meet New Students
20
Day 2
Design Empathy Interview Protocols
21
Day 3
User Research Artifacts
22
Day 4
Define
Synthesize Interviews into POV Statements
23
Day 5
Draft Initial Wireframes for Maps
26
Day 6
POV and HMW Pack
27
Day 7
Ideate
Create User Personas From Interviews
28
Day 8
Peer Critique of Wireframe Concepts
29
Day 9
Prototype Revision for Culture Map
30
Day 10
Top Concepts Pack
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 11
Prototype
Synthesize Interview Insights into Personas
3
Day 12
Guided Heuristics for App Usability
4
Day 13
Mid-Project Wireframe Critique Panel Workshop
5
Day 14
Iteration Planning for Prototype Refinement
6
Day 15
Prototype Iteration Log
User Testing Report
9
Day 16
Test/Present
Synthesize Feedback from Live Testing
10
Day 17
Conduct Live Testing and Iteration
11
Day 18
Refine Prototype for Final Presentation
12
Day 19
Prototype Iteration Sprint
13
Day 20
App Prototype Showcase
Final Prototype Presentation