Nature has been a guide and an inspiration for humans for many thousands of years. Biomimicry is learning from and then emulating, natural forms, processes and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs. 

Use the link below to research and understand the process of Biomimicry and how it relates to the design professions. Record your notes in your Sketchbook. There are many resources and links provided by these websites. 

Biomimcry Institute 

Explore this website. From the home page click on the tab: Biomimicry 101

From the drop down menu click on: What is Biomimicry? Watch each of the three videos on this page and take notes in your sketchbook. Feel free to explore deeper - by using the other tabs: Biomimicry Examples; Biomimicry examples; Stories from the field and Biomimicry Resources.

AskNature

This website also has videos and other resources for you to explore, including some interesting real life case studies of innovation inspired and learned from nature.

RELECTION:

 In a brief paragraph explain why or why not you think biomimicry is an valid and potentially useful approach for designers.

and.....

Can you think of a time in your life that you reverse engineered something in order to learn about it?

Post this paragraph to your e-portfolio and submit through onCampus.

Find three examples of designs using biomimicry that were most interesting to you. Include an annotated photograph or other image for each example. In your annotation briefly describe how the designer(s) used natural forms and/or processes to achieve their design; what advantages were gained by using the Biomimicry approach to design and why it appealed to you.

Post to your e-portfolio and submit your work through onCampus

In this project you will be using the approach of Biomimicry to explore a natural object and then use what you have learned to inspire your own design that solves a design challenge. There are several areas of challenges that you can choose from. Pick an area that you have an interest in. Although Biomimicry is closely intertwined with the sciences, we are approaching this project from the perspective as designers. Extensive scientific knowledge is not necessary to successfully complete this project, although the more you can bring to bear, the better. More important, is the ability to observe carefully and to make connections between problems and solutionsIt is important that you approach this project with an open and creative mind. There is not necessarily any single "correct" answer. 

Criteria:

·    The designers must work collaboratively to achieve a potentially successful design that shows creative problem solving.

·    Using the Biomimicry approach, designers must brainstorm at least three design ideas that could potentially solve the design problem.

·    The designers must complete and document all phases of the design process detailed below. This should be largely in your sketchbooks. 

    The designers will create an informative and visually appealing presentation of their work to the class. Which shows both their process and their design solution.

Process:

Select: If an object has not been assigned to you select a natural object that you would like to study. It should be something that can be reverse engineered (taken apart) with relative ease.

·    Research: Reverse engineer (carefully take apart) the natural object. Observe and record by carefully drawing all of its different components. Observe how the different parts work together to form a whole. Notate your drawings to further explain the functions of the different parts of the object. Consider the form and color as well as function and speculate on why the object is what it is, and does what it does.

·    Brainstorm: ideas of products or systems that might solve existing challenges in one of the following areas: Find an actual "real life" challenge that you can design a possible solution for. You can pursue you challenge through any type of design: Architectural, product design, system design etc. Brainstorm at least three different ideas. As you consider the problem you are trying to solve you must consider the "user" of the person (or people) that are affected by the problem and by you solution. How will your solution work for them? You may need to do additional research on your user to fully understand the problem from their perspective.

Some possible areas to consider:

environmental problems

medical problems

social and infrastructure problems in various places: such as developing nations, poor rural or urban communities. Such things as transportation, architecture, communication etc. 

Food production

·    Prototype: Develop low-resolution prototypes of your ideas  A prototype can be a 3d dimensional object, a drawing or other image or representation.

     Critique: Present your ideas (prototypes) to the class. Listen carefully to how people respond to your ideas. Be open to what they say. Take careful notes and use them in the next phase of the process. Ideally your "user" would be an important part of the process - in this case your classmates will act as your users.

·    Select and Refine: Using the feedback you received in your critique, build a more refined prototype.Record in your sketchbook: how your design changed and improved  as a result of the feedback you received.

·    Present: Create a presentation that documents both your process and the product. Your presentation can be any form but it must be uploaded to your e-portfolio. You will also give your presentation to the class. 

Write a short reflection based on the following prompts: Please post this in your e-portfolio

How did using the design strategy of Biomimicry influence your design process? Do you think that you would have arrived at your possible solution had you used a different approach and why?

Given the feedback that you have received how would you see yourself developing your project further? What specific steps would you take?