Eco-Data Informed Processes. Nature as a Co-Designer to face Environmental Change.

Change is a feature of the Earth’s evolution, manifesting itself through imperceptible shifts or radical transformations that spread across time and space. However, the climate crisis introduces alterations of unprecedented scale and speed, challenging the natural order. The goal is to address crises by preserving the environment and exploring new paradigms in ecology, society and technology, translating scientific insights into design to address social and environmental challenges. This research embraces the transformative potential of integrating natural processes with design to address pressing global challenges.(Haraway, 2015; Kohn, 2021) Nature has long been a muse and mentor in design, inspiring innovative and sustainable solutions. This research explores how emerging biodesign and biofabrication technologies can be harnessed to create digital design processes, specifically data visualization, that not only respect ecological balances, but also promote principles of interspecies cooperation. Techniques such as Living Building Materials (LBM) (Alemu et al., 2022), Engineered Living Materials (ELM) (Wang et al., 2022) and others are discussed to explore how they could be implemented in the DIKW (data- knowledge-information-wisdom) process of data visualization. This approach, part of the transition to the circular economy, defines a post- Anthropocene future (Rognoli et al., 2021), emphasizing co-creation with natural processes. It presents ecologically informed design as a methodology that can integrate digital and biological innovations to promote the embodiment of processes that respect the rhythms of nature in design practice. Based on these considerations, we investigate the possibilities of incorporating bioinspired strategies in the digital domain, particularly in the field of data visualization. Our goal is to study how these processes can advance the domain, fostering a deeper connection with and for nature. The research aims for a shift in design paradigms to include more holistic, nature-informed processes that align with environmental sustainability models and promote the use of natural strategies as a key component for innovation. In addition it aims to integrate these practices in the educational field, preparing the next generation of designers to think critically about the environmental impact of their digital work. The contribution proposes the development of Data-Informed Ecological Processes, which combine digital technologies with biomimicry principles to create innovative and sustainable alternatives to conventional data visualization methods. The research proposes the development of data-driven ecological processes, integrating digital technologies and biomimetic principles to create innovative and sustainable alternatives to traditional data visualization methods. These processes will culminate in the development of an application methodology, leading to the realization of a workshop for design students in the later stages of the research. This scientific contribution will introduce new practices and processes in the fields of design and education. The methodology will act as a catalyst for further applications, including new design courses in which solutions inspired by nature and its strategies will be explored and integrated into data visualization processes. In conclusion, this contribution advocates for a future design paradigm where nature and technology harmonize, utilizing biofabrication and biomimicry to develop sustainable design solutions. This approach aims to transform data visualization practices, promoting an eco- conscious and integrated design methodology that offers low-energy solutions, thereby advancing conventional data visualization methods.