Indata, Envisioning & Prototyping Informed by Knowledge. Open-Access Data Platform to Support Design Scenarios

The paper presents and discusses the methodology and first results of the research project InData and the related scraping tool based on public data, proposing a focus on its application in the educational context. The authors point out how data can be the main activators of design process and nurture the experimentation within fields of interactive artifacts, intelligent materials, digital fabrication, and speculative design and enable to better imagine the future design scenarios. What is proposed by this research project is development of a data scraping tool, a web platform aiming at stimulating the process of envisioning and prototyping, and its implementation in didactic activities within different design courses. InData Scraping Tool can serve as opener of the spectre of possibilities and collective knowledge, envisioning promoter of future design scenarios, and helper in the objectification, legitimization and contextualization of what is designed. This kind of approach wants to enhance the importance of critical thinking in designing and in developing the capability to investigate the complexity of social, cultural, ethical and environmental terms. The general objective of this research project is to develop the theoretical and practical framework which is supported by the InData web platform, and which can help design students in envisioning and visualizing the future scenarios and at the same time investigate complex topics.