Empathize
Students will launch the shelter dog adoption project by experiencing the local need, examining how dog traits and behavior affect adoption matches, and recording first-round empathy evidence that will guide later problem statements and design work.
Day 1
๐Ÿถ Shelter Dog Need Kickoff
Launch 45m
Define
Students will sort evidence from shelter observations, vet input, and adopter needs to write a clear How Might We problem statement that names a real matching challenge, includes constraints, and sets up the next round of idea generation.
Day 2
๐Ÿงฉ How Might We Match Dogs
Deliverable 45m
Ideate
Students will turn their shelter observations, breed-trait research, and How Might We statements into multiple adoption-tool ideas, then choose one evidence-based direction to carry into drafting.
Day 3
๐Ÿ’ก Adoption Tool Sketch Sprint
Deliverable 45m
Draft
Students will turn their selected adoption ideas into first-draft tools by building a testable personality test or QR-coded breed/care profile, using shelter evidence and prior How Might We statements to shape design decisions. They will create visible prototype artifacts and revise them after a structured peer feedback round so the next phase can focus on testing with users.
Days 4 - 5
๐Ÿ› ๏ธ QR Profiles and Match Tool Build
Deliverable 45m
๐Ÿ’ฌ Two-Peer Prototype Feedback
Project Work 45m
Test
Students will test their draft adoption tools with peers, gather structured evidence about usability and match quality, and record specific revisions they need to make before critique.
Day 6
๐Ÿงช QR Profiles Peer Test
Deliverable 45m
Critique
Students will use a structured critique protocol to evaluate their adoption personality tests, QR-coded breed cards, and care profiles, then record specific revisions they will make before the final showcase.
Day 7
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Critique QR Cards and Match Tools
Deliverable 45m
Notice & Reflect
Students will document what they learned from shelter observations, design iterations, and community feedback, then share their final adoption tools and timelines through a brief Forever Home Fair-style gallery walk reflection that identifies evidence of growth and responsible next steps.
Day 8
๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Forever Home Fair Reflection Gallery
Deliverable 45m