Launch
Launch
Students will launch the yearlong pathway project by building background knowledge about shelter adoption work, community outreach, and animal safety; connecting with mentors and community partners; surfacing assumptions; and producing the first evidence-based concept materials that will guide deeper research in the next phase.
Days 1 - 11
45 min over capacity (495 min available across 11 days)
Research & Listen
Research & Listen
Students will investigate shelter needs, adoption barriers, and safety considerations through direct contact with community partners and local residents, then organize evidence into research artifacts that prepare them to define a focused, evidence-based design challenge.
Days 12 - 29
Make Empathy Map
Make Empathy Map
Students will synthesize interview notes, observation records, and partner input into empathy maps, journey patterns, and assumption-check documents that clarify stakeholder needs, barriers, and safety risks. They will test their interpretations through critique, mentor feedback, and a community partner touchpoint, then revise toward a clear evidence-based problem direction for the next phase.
Days 30 - 46
Define Design Brief
Define Design Brief
Students will turn empathy findings, interview evidence, and shelter partner input into a focused design brief for a community adoption awareness effort. They will define a clear problem statement, analyze criteria and constraints, draft measurable outreach goals, and refine their brief through mentor, peer, and partner critique before a milestone approval for the next phase.
Days 47 - 63
Prototype & Test
Prototype & Test
Students will generate and compare multiple outreach and event concepts, build low-fidelity prototypes grounded in prior research, test those prototypes with peers and community partners, and use evidence from critique to revise their adoption-awareness solutions.
Days 64 - 80
Refine & Present
Refine & Present
Students will refine their outreach and event-planning solutions through documented revision cycles, validate changes with peers and community stakeholders, and prepare a professional presentation that explains how research, feedback, and tradeoff decisions shaped the proposed community adoption event.
Days 81 - 97
Showcase
Showcase
Students will finalize and present their adoption awareness work to authentic audiences, document community impact from the event, and curate evidence of how research, feedback, and revision shaped their final decisions. They will use peer critique, mentor input, and audience responses to strengthen exhibition materials, then complete a final performance assessment and year-end reflection on collaboration, activism, and self-direction.
Days 98 - 108
Launch
Days 1–11
Day 1
🐾 Shelter Stories Kickoff Panel
Launch
45m
Day 2
📘 Animal Safety and Adoption Text Study
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 3
🗺️ Shelter Visit Observation Log
Community Experience
90m
Day 4
🎯 Criteria and Constraints Mini Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 5
💬 Interview Questions and Contact Roles
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 6
🧠 Adoption Event Idea Sprint
Project Work
45m
Day 7
📝 Problem Statement Draft Board
Deliverable
45m
Day 8
🎨 Outreach Prototype Thumbnails
Project Work
45m
Day 9
🔁 Mentor Feedback on Thumbnails
Deliverable
45m
Day 10
📄 Launch Research Brief Checkpoint
Assessment
45m
Day 11
📈 Progress Report and Next Steps
Assessment
45m
Research & Listen
Days 12–29
Day 12
🎙️ Shelter Interview Protocol Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 13
🦺 Animal Safety Field Notes Clinic
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 14
📋 Community Listening Logistics Plan
Project Work
45m
Day 15
🐾 Shelter Staff Listening Visit
Community Experience
90m
Day 16
Day 17
🗣️ Resident Adoption Barrier Interviews
Community Experience
90m
Day 18
Day 19
📚 Research Synthesis on Adoption Outreach
Research
45m
Day 20
Day 21
🧩 Evidence Clustering With Affinity Notes
Project Work
45m
Day 22
Day 23
⚖️ Event Constraints Analysis Board
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 24
Day 25
📝 User Research Brief Draft
Deliverable
45m
Day 26
🔁 Brief Feedback Round
Project Work
45m
Day 27
👥 Mentor and Partner Research Critique
Community Experience
45m
Day 28
Day 29
✅ Research Brief Milestone Conference
Assessment
45m
Make Empathy Map
Days 30–46
Day 30
🧭 Shelter Stakeholder Pattern Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 31
📝 Empathy Map Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 32
🐾 Adopter Journey Risk Map
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 33
🗂️ Individual Empathy Map Draft
Deliverable
90m
Day 34
Day 35
💬 Two-Peer Critique on Maps
Project Work
45m
Day 36
⚖️ Event Constraint Evidence Grid
Research
45m
Day 37
Day 38
🔍 Assumption Check Tracker
Project Work
45m
Day 39
Day 40
🎙️ Shelter Staff Sense Check
Community Experience
45m
Day 41
Day 42
🔁 Revised Map and Evidence Notes
Deliverable
90m
Day 43
Day 44
Day 45
📌 Problem Framing Conference
Assessment
45m
Day 46
Define Design Brief
Days 47–63
Day 47
🧭 How Might We Studio
Launch
45m
Day 48
📚 Shelter Messaging Mentor Texts
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 49
⚖️ Animal Safety Constraints Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 50
🗂️ Insight Clusters to Problem Statements
Project Work
45m
Day 51
🎯 Design Brief Metrics Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 52
📝 Design Brief Draft
Deliverable
90m
Day 53
Day 54
🤝 Mentor Check-In Conference
Community Experience
45m
Day 55
💬 Brief Feedback Carousel
Project Work
45m
Day 56
Day 57
📞 Shelter Staff Design Review
Community Experience
45m
Day 58
Day 59
🔁 Revision Sprint and Change Log
Deliverable
90m
Day 60
Day 61
🧪 Outreach Directions Sketch Set
Project Work
45m
Day 62
Day 63
✅ Design Brief Milestone Review
Assessment
45m
Prototype & Test
Days 64–80
Day 64
🚀 Adoption Event Prototype Sprint
Launch
45m
Day 65
🧭 Outreach Concepts and Tradeoffs
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 66
🎨 Messaging Models for Adoption Campaigns
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 67
💡 Three Event Directions
Project Work
45m
Day 68
🛠️ Flyer and Booth Mockups
Project Work
90m
Day 69
Day 70
🗣️ Peer Critique on Safety Messaging
Deliverable
45m
Day 71
🔁 Revised Outreach Prototype Draft
Deliverable
45m
Day 72
📋 User Testing Interview Protocols
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 73
🏠 Shelter Partner Feedback Round
Community Experience
90m
Day 74
Day 75
📊 Feedback Pattern Sort
Research
45m
Day 76
✍️ Problem Statement and Test Plan
Deliverable
45m
Day 77
🔍 Mentor Check-In Revisions
Project Work
45m
Day 78
Day 79
Day 80
✅ Prototype Evidence Review
Assessment
45m
Refine & Present
Days 81–97
Day 81
🧭 Feedback-to-Revision Decision Matrix
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 82
🛡️ Animal Safety Message Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 83
📊 Tradeoff Evidence Storyboard
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 84
🛠️ Revision Sprint One
Project Work
90m
Day 85
Day 86
🗣️ Two-Peer Critique Protocol
Deliverable
45m
Day 87
Day 88
🤝 Shelter Stakeholder Validation
Community Experience
45m
Day 89
Day 90
🔁 Revision Sprint Two
Project Work
90m
Day 91
Day 92
📁 Iteration Portfolio Checkpoint
Deliverable
45m
Day 93
Day 94
🎤 Showcase Deck Build
Project Work
90m
Day 95
Day 96
🎯 Evidence-Based Presentation Rehearsal
Assessment
45m
Day 97
📝 Activism Growth Progress Report
Deliverable
45m
Showcase
Days 98–108
Day 98
🎤 Shelter Event Storyboard Run
Launch
45m
Day 99
📊 Adoption Impact Data Wall
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 100
🖼️ Outreach Portfolio Curation
Project Work
45m
Day 101
🗣️ Peer Critique on Event Displays
Deliverable
45m
Day 102
🧭 Mentor Notes Revision Sprint
Project Work
45m
Day 103
🎙️ Family Showcase Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 104
🤝 Community Adoption Showcase
Community Experience
90m
Day 105
📝 Audience Feedback Synthesis Memo
Research
45m
Day 106
📁 Final Pathway Project Defense
Assessment
45m
Day 107
🌱 Activism Growth Reflection
Assessment
45m
Day 108
June 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
22
Day 1
Launch
🐾 Shelter Stories Kickoff Panel
23
Day 2
📘 Animal Safety and Adoption Text Study
24
Day 3
🗺️ Shelter Visit Observation Log
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
29
Day 4
🎯 Criteria and Constraints Mini Lab
30
Day 5
💬 Interview Questions and Contact Roles
1
Day 6
🧠 Adoption Event Idea Sprint
6
Day 7
📝 Problem Statement Draft Board
7
Day 8
🎨 Outreach Prototype Thumbnails
8
Day 9
🔁 Mentor Feedback on Thumbnails
13
Day 10
📄 Launch Research Brief Checkpoint
14
Day 11
📈 Progress Report and Next Steps
15
Day 12
Research & Listen
🎙️ Shelter Interview Protocol Workshop
20
Day 13
🦺 Animal Safety Field Notes Clinic
21
Day 14
📋 Community Listening Logistics Plan
22
Day 15
🐾 Shelter Staff Listening Visit
27
Day 16
28
Day 17
🗣️ Resident Adoption Barrier Interviews
29
Day 18
August 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
3
Day 19
📚 Research Synthesis on Adoption Outreach
4
Day 20
5
Day 21
🧩 Evidence Clustering With Affinity Notes
10
Day 22
11
Day 23
⚖️ Event Constraints Analysis Board
12
Day 24
17
Day 25
📝 User Research Brief Draft
18
Day 26
🔁 Brief Feedback Round
19
Day 27
👥 Mentor and Partner Research Critique
24
Day 28
25
Day 29
✅ Research Brief Milestone Conference
26
Day 30
Make Empathy Map
🧭 Shelter Stakeholder Pattern Sort
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
31
Day 31
📝 Empathy Map Moves
1
Day 32
🐾 Adopter Journey Risk Map
2
Day 33
🗂️ Individual Empathy Map Draft
7
Day 34
8
Day 35
💬 Two-Peer Critique on Maps
9
Day 36
⚖️ Event Constraint Evidence Grid
14
Day 37
15
Day 38
🔍 Assumption Check Tracker
16
Day 39
21
Day 40
🎙️ Shelter Staff Sense Check
22
Day 41
23
Day 42
🔁 Revised Map and Evidence Notes
28
Day 43
29
Day 44
30
Day 45
📌 Problem Framing Conference
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 46
6
Day 47
Define Design Brief
🧭 How Might We Studio
7
Day 48
📚 Shelter Messaging Mentor Texts
12
Day 49
⚖️ Animal Safety Constraints Lab
13
Day 50
🗂️ Insight Clusters to Problem Statements
14
Day 51
🎯 Design Brief Metrics Workshop
19
Day 52
📝 Design Brief Draft
20
Day 53
21
Day 54
🤝 Mentor Check-In Conference
26
Day 55
💬 Brief Feedback Carousel
27
Day 56
28
Day 57
📞 Shelter Staff Design Review
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 58
3
Day 59
🔁 Revision Sprint and Change Log
4
Day 60
9
Day 61
🧪 Outreach Directions Sketch Set
10
Day 62
11
Day 63
✅ Design Brief Milestone Review
16
Day 64
Prototype & Test
🚀 Adoption Event Prototype Sprint
17
Day 65
🧭 Outreach Concepts and Tradeoffs
18
Day 66
🎨 Messaging Models for Adoption Campaigns
23
Day 67
💡 Three Event Directions
24
Day 68
🛠️ Flyer and Booth Mockups
25
Day 69
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
30
Day 70
🗣️ Peer Critique on Safety Messaging
1
Day 71
🔁 Revised Outreach Prototype Draft
2
Day 72
📋 User Testing Interview Protocols
7
Day 73
🏠 Shelter Partner Feedback Round
8
Day 74
9
Day 75
📊 Feedback Pattern Sort
14
Day 76
✍️ Problem Statement and Test Plan
15
Day 77
🔍 Mentor Check-In Revisions
16
Day 78
21
Day 79
22
Day 80
✅ Prototype Evidence Review
23
Day 81
Refine & Present
🧭 Feedback-to-Revision Decision Matrix
28
Day 82
🛡️ Animal Safety Message Check
29
Day 83
📊 Tradeoff Evidence Storyboard
30
Day 84
🛠️ Revision Sprint One
January 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4
Day 85
5
Day 86
🗣️ Two-Peer Critique Protocol
6
Day 87
11
Day 88
🤝 Shelter Stakeholder Validation
12
Day 89
13
Day 90
🔁 Revision Sprint Two
18
Day 91
19
Day 92
📁 Iteration Portfolio Checkpoint
20
Day 93
25
Day 94
🎤 Showcase Deck Build
26
Day 95
27
Day 96
🎯 Evidence-Based Presentation Rehearsal
February 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Day 97
📝 Activism Growth Progress Report
2
Day 98
Showcase
🎤 Shelter Event Storyboard Run
3
Day 99
📊 Adoption Impact Data Wall
8
Day 100
🖼️ Outreach Portfolio Curation
9
Day 101
🗣️ Peer Critique on Event Displays
10
Day 102
🧭 Mentor Notes Revision Sprint
15
Day 103
🎙️ Family Showcase Rehearsal
16
Day 104
🤝 Community Adoption Showcase
17
Day 105
📝 Audience Feedback Synthesis Memo
22
Day 106
📁 Final Pathway Project Defense
23
Day 107
🌱 Activism Growth Reflection
24
Day 108