Himera: diseño gráfico para visibilizar la flora del páramo de Chingaza.

Abstract

The Himera project emerged from the need to disseminate the importance of the flora of the Chingaza Páramo and its relationship with the water system that supplies Bogotá, using visual strategies that connect with young audiences. This ecosystem, essential for climate balance and water supply, faces threats derived from climate change and human expansion, posing a challenge for environmental education. The objective of the project was to develop an interactive digital resource that combined illustration, interactivity, and gamification, aimed at young people between 17 and 23 years old, in order to foster environmental awareness and knowledge. The methodology was based on a qualitative research-creation approach, integrating theoretical inquiry, visual analysis, and practical experimentation across four stages: data collection, analysis, prototyping, and testing. During the data collection phase, a documentary review on páramo flora was conducted, along with surveys of young people to identify their visual consumption habits. Based on the analysis, conceptual and narrative guidelines were defined, prioritizing an immersive experience within a 3D environment. The result was a functional prototype developed on the Spatial.io platform, structured as a gamified virtual gallery where users explore the biodiversity of the páramo through visual and narrative challenges. The pilot test showed that participants acquired new knowledge about the flora and its role in the regulation of Bogotá’s water system, valuing the proposal for its clarity, visual appeal, and coherence. In conclusion, Himera demonstrates that graphic design, articulated with immersive technology, can act as an effective mediator between environmental knowledge and emotion, promoting learning processes and awareness toward the conservation of high-mountain ecosystems.