Students will investigate who their parachute designs must work for and why, explore core aerodynamics concepts, and gather authentic user insights to inform future design decisions about maximizing stable airtime in a wind tunnel.

Students will synthesize user research and early wind tunnel observations into a clear, measurable problem statement focused on maximizing stable airtime. They will analyze patterns in feedback and data, define criteria and constraints, and create an actionable design brief that guides ideation in the next phase.

Students will generate a wide range of parachute design ideas grounded in user feedback and aerodynamic principles, then narrow to a high-potential concept supported by data-informed reasoning and peer critique before moving into prototyping.

Students will construct and refine testable parachute prototypes for the box-fan wind tunnel, using aerodynamic principles, structured peer critique, and user-centered feedback to complete at least one full build–test–revise cycle while documenting evidence in their design journals.

Students will conduct final user testing of their wind tunnel parachute prototypes, analyze performance data, refine their designs based on stakeholder feedback, and present their optimized solutions at Parachute Showcase Day with evidence-based explanations answering the Essential Question.