2026 MDC Douglas Winter Academy Template PBL JOURNEY by

REFLECTION: What are you most proud of with your product?

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

What are you most proud of with your product?

how we went from having all this fancy machinery to keeping it simple
how my product will reduce stress
will help people with space
we worked so hard on it
how we took it from too much stuff and toned it down
how we evolved it and were able to explain our vision and create our model
that it solved many problems
that we really thought about how it could change people's comfort
even though we weren't always together, we found ways to get along and solve it
how it was really customizable

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

Show through pictures, videos, examples of student work, and written documentation to reflect how teams were built, how students uncovered and understood the driving question, the standards covered, and the launch into the project.

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

Students interviewed stakeholders at home and at school for insight into their investigation!

Analyzing Authentic Audience Feedback

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

I wonder how to clean it?
I wonder how to change the tread on the wheelchair?
How do you keep the Wheel Care clean and would that be hard for people on their own?
Would there be a massage component?
Storage seemed to be important!

Business Connections

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

Thank you so much to our friends from Fleetwood Furniture:

Matt Marzolf, Alan Rheault, and Michelle Allard! We have been so fortunate to partner with you!

Team DES!

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

Our Driving Question

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

MICHIGAN DESIGN PRIZE 2026 CHALLENGE: FURNITURE
For the 2026 Michigan Design Prize Challenge, create a furniture concept that provides a solution for specific uses or problems, for individuals with unique needs, or for use in various environments (public spaces, private spaces, natural environments, business spaces, schools, industrial environments).

futureprepd2 — 2025-10-22 14:38:40 UTC

Norms the Team Created for the Best Experience!

2026-01-08 03:07:58 UTC

Working on Hopes, Fears, and Norms

2026-01-08 03:09:13 UTC

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Stakeholder Map

2026-01-14 14:35:08 UTC

We found that with this driving question, our stakeholders were limitless! The team focused on the stakeholders they felt they would like to target the most.

A Warm Wind Blows

2026-01-14 14:40:13 UTC

We always begin our time with a quick community circle: greeting, sharing (usually tied to engineering, design, or toys!), and an activity. A Warm Wind Blows is a form of music chairs in which the kids get to know one another better.

Empathy Maps

2026-01-14 14:45:03 UTC

Because of the large number of important stakeholder with this driving question, students created smaller, individual empathy maps for the stakeholder they chose. They then presented what that stakeholder was saying, thinking, doing, and seeing to a small group.

Giants, Wizards, and Elves Game

2026-01-27 21:13:08 UTC

The kids had fun team building through a game similar to rock, paper, scissors.

Crazy 8's

2026-01-27 21:19:28 UTC

We used the protocol Crazy 8's to develop initial ideas.

Crazy 8's

2026-01-27 21:19:47 UTC

Crazy 8's

2026-01-27 21:20:16 UTC

Dot Voting

2026-01-27 21:23:35 UTC

From the Crazy 8's protocol, students chose their top three ideas to share with the rest of the team. They then used dot voting to choose top ideas from Crazy 8 presentations. Each student had 4 dots and they could vote for one of their own ideas.

NUFF Test with Dot Voting

2026-01-27 21:27:43 UTC

We used a simplified NUFF test on the top ideas. Is each idea completely New, Usable, Feasible, and Fun? For this driving question involving furniture creation, we put more emphasis on the "new" aspect of the NUFF test. The starred ideas are those we plan on receiving feedback on from our friends at Fleetwood Furniture next week.

Furniture Hunt

2026-01-27 21:45:03 UTC

The team explored DES, recognizing any type of furniture in different spaces, geared toward different students and adults. They noticed and questioned materials, shapes, and sizes of the furniture.

"Whoa!"

2026-01-27 21:47:12 UTC

The kids were in awe of some of the clever designs they saw in this video of furniture designed for small spaces. It got them thinking about different types of problems furniture can solve.

Zoom Discussion

2026-02-08 22:28:13 UTC

Discussing ideas with their teammate at home!

Fleetwood Feedback!

2026-02-08 22:47:08 UTC

We are so so grateful to Mr. Matt, Mr. Alan, and Ms. Michelle from Fleetwood Furniture for their time and advice! Individual students and groups presented preliminary ideas to the trio and received feedback. They were given wonderful compliments and asked questions designed to deepen their thinking about their furniture.

Fleetwood Feedback!

2026-02-08 22:48:34 UTC

Fleetwood Feedback!

2026-02-08 22:48:46 UTC

Fleetwood Feedback!

2026-02-08 22:49:51 UTC

Great Advice!

2026-02-08 22:53:40 UTC

Students received some important advice to keep in mind as they move forward with their products. Create a problem list to help narrow what they are truly trying to solve. Also, decide what features of their furniture are essential, they should have if possible, and simply nice to have. Benchmarking was another tip to help the designers.

Careerline Tech Center Feedback

2026-02-14 16:30:54 UTC

Tuesday, February 12, our team headed to the CTC in Holland for feedback, revision, a tour, and fun! Groups were able to present to several high school students in various classrooms. The became more comfortable in their presenting and received very valuable feedback!

Careerline Tech Center Feedback

2026-02-14 16:31:12 UTC

Careerline Tech Center Feedback

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Careerline Tech Center Feedback

2026-02-14 16:32:21 UTC

CTC Trip SPARK, CHILL, IGNITE Protocol

2026-02-14 16:37:08 UTC

This protocol was designed to help students work through feedback received from classroom visits.

CTC Trip SPARK, CHILL, IGNITE Protocol

2026-02-14 16:37:28 UTC

CTC Center Tour

2026-02-14 16:59:23 UTC

The team was able to learn about a variety of Careerline Tech Center offerings, including culinary, electrical, graphic design, and auto body repair.

Fun Conclusion!

2026-02-14 17:01:05 UTC

The team worked through some reflection questions in order to receive letters to unscramble. When they created the correct word, we received a fun goodie box to open back at DES.

Miller Knoll Guests

2026-02-14 17:31:13 UTC

How lucky are we?!? Due to an inside connection with one of our team members, we were able to have Lindsay Henry and Abi Johns from Miller Knoll visit our team during our Feb. 10 session. They provided a different perspective to the design process, as they are on the marketing side of Miller Knoll. It was a perfect time to receive insight into how to create a successful pitch!

Miller Knoll Guests

2026-02-14 17:31:57 UTC

Business Connections

2026-02-15 19:55:50 UTC

Also, a big THANK YOU to Lindsay Henry and Abi Johns from Miller Knoll!

Final Product! Airport Chair

2026-02-18 12:25:16 UTC

Final Product! Pop Up Pizza

2026-02-18 12:27:35 UTC

Final Product! Paradise Chair

2026-02-18 12:28:09 UTC

Final Product! The Wheel Care

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Final Presentation Guests

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