Empathize
Empathize
Students will investigate and engage with community members, peers, and digital design experts to gather insights into current trends and emerging needs, fostering an understanding crucial for designing future innovative products in the Empathize phase.
Days 1 - 3
25 min over capacity (135 min available across 3 days)
Define
Define
Students will articulate their project's core vision and desired community impact by collaboratively defining their innovative business idea, aligning with futuristic concepts, and pinpointing its importance in anticipation of the marketplace exhibition.
Days 4 - 6
Ideate
Ideate
Students will collaborate with peers and community partners to brainstorm and develop innovative ideas using design thinking principles that address the market needs they identified, preparing to outline their futurism-focused projects.
Days 7 - 9
Draft
Draft
Students will draft comprehensive outlines and sketches of their future market products, including considerations for permits, licenses, and marketing strategies, ensuring their innovative ideas align with futurism concepts and the targeted marketplace.
Days 10 - 12
45 min over capacity (135 min available across 3 days)
Test
Test
Students will prototype their futuristic product ideas by conducting field tests, gather feedback from peers and community partners for insights on real-world impact and engagement, and apply this data to refine their designs and marketing strategies.
Days 13 - 15
Critique
Critique
Students will engage in a structured critique process, analyzing peer presentations, providing specific feedback, and incorporating insights to refine their innovative product designs in preparation for the marketplace exhibition.
Days 16 - 18
Notice & Reflect
Notice & Reflect
Students will analyze the outcomes and impacts of their market presentations and innovative products, predict potential future shifts in the industry, and engage in self-reflection to derive actionable insights for continuous improvement and next steps.
Days 19 - 20
Empathize
Days 1–3
Day 1
Futurism Protocol Experiment #1 (100 min)
Launch
100m
Day 2
Understand Permitting and Licensing Basics
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 3
User Research Pack
Deliverable
Define
Days 4–6
Day 4
Explore Permits, Licenses, and Compliance
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 5
Draft Futuristic Venture Marketing Plan
Project Work
60m
Day 6
Define Futuristic Venture
Deliverable
Ideate
Days 7–9
Day 7
Study Futurist Marketplace Concepts and Trends
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 8
Collaborate with Digital Designer on Marketing Plan
Project Work
60m
Day 9
Future Marketplace Concepts
Deliverable
Draft
Days 10–12
Day 10
Understanding Permits, Licensing, and Compliance
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 11
Exploring Funding and Budget Strategies
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 12
Field Testing Futuristic Prototypes
Project Work
60m
Test
Days 13–15
Day 13
Marketing Plans, Pitches, and Reflection
Project Work
60m
Day 14
Prototype Iteration Feedback
Deliverable
Day 15
Future Market Pitch
Assessment
Critique
Days 16–18
Day 16
Structured Peer Critique Protocol Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 17
Iterative Marketplace Pitch Refinement Workshop
Project Work
60m
Day 18
Final Design Pitch
Assessment
Notice & Reflect
Days 19–20
Day 19
Mastery Path
Assessment
Day 20
Future Market Pitch
Assessment
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Empathize
Futurism Protocol Experiment #1 (100 min)
20
Day 2
Understand Permitting and Licensing Basics
21
Day 3
User Research Pack
22
Day 4
Define
Explore Permits, Licenses, and Compliance
23
Day 5
Draft Futuristic Venture Marketing Plan
26
Day 6
Define Futuristic Venture
27
Day 7
Ideate
Study Futurist Marketplace Concepts and Trends
28
Day 8
Collaborate with Digital Designer on Marketing Plan
29
Day 9
Future Marketplace Concepts
30
Day 10
Draft
Understanding Permits, Licensing, and Compliance
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 11
Exploring Funding and Budget Strategies
3
Day 12
Field Testing Futuristic Prototypes
4
Day 13
Test
Marketing Plans, Pitches, and Reflection
5
Day 14
Prototype Iteration Feedback
6
Day 15
Future Market Pitch
9
Day 16
Critique
Structured Peer Critique Protocol Workshop
10
Day 17
Iterative Marketplace Pitch Refinement Workshop
11
Day 18
Final Design Pitch
12
Day 19
Notice & Reflect
Mastery Path
13
Day 20
Future Market Pitch