Step 1
Design Experience 1: Embracing the Challenge and the Work Ahead

Pre-work

Preparing for Design Experience 1

Experience

Design Experience 1

Post-work

Post-Work Activities

Preparing for Design Experience 1

Overview

Before Design Experience 1: Embracing the Challenge and the Work Ahead, your school design team will take time to connect and prepare for the journey ahead. This step provides an opportunity to reestablish team focus, reflect on progress to date, and ensure readiness to fully engage in the design work to come. Whether you are revisiting insights, organizing materials, or orienting to new concepts, this step will help your team show up grounded, curious, and ready to imagine what’s possible for your school.

Outputs
  • Synthesized insights from EOAA and SRA
  • Team calendar and logistics plan in Design Journey Notebook
  • Clear understanding of XQ Design Principles and Phase 3 goals and outputs

Goal
Arrive at Design Experience 1 ready to reflect, learn, and begin designing with clarity and intention.

Owner(s)
School design team lead

Contributor(s)
School design team

Putting It Into Practice

1

Connect as a team:

Set aside time to check in with each other and reflect on your shared purpose. Revisit your team norms and how you want to show up for this phase of the work.

2

Revisit your EOAA and SRA:

Review your findings from the Educational Outcomes Audit and Analysis and School Readiness Assessment. These insights will form the foundation for your Design Experience 1 work. Assign who will bring your EOAA posters with you to the Design Experience.

3

Orient to this phase of work:

Read the Phase 3 Overview and Your Bold School Concept pages. These will help your team understand where this journey is headed and how the steps fit together.

 

4

Get familiar with the XQ Design Principles:

Begin exploring the XQ Design Principles. These will be key anchors for your design decisions. Don’t worry about internalizing them at this point—just begin to get familiar.

5

Align on logistics:

Make a plan to ensure your team can fully participate in each Design Experience, including adding all Design Experience dates to your calendars, identifying what support is needed (e.g., substitute coverage, travel coordination, communication to other teammates), and clarifying who is responsible for each logistical task.

Go to Next Step
Shared Milestone - Design Experience 1
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