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Design and Habitat

Biomimicry is a practice that learns from nature's strategies to address human design challenges sustainably. It emphasizes creating products and systems that align with the interconnectedness of life on Earth. The document also discusses the concept of 'design champions'—organisms that inspire innovative designs—and provides an example of a biomimetic suit inspired by peacocks.

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9 views10 pages

Design and Habitat

Biomimicry is a practice that learns from nature's strategies to address human design challenges sustainably. It emphasizes creating products and systems that align with the interconnectedness of life on Earth. The document also discusses the concept of 'design champions'—organisms that inspire innovative designs—and provides an example of a biomimetic suit inspired by peacocks.

Uploaded by

Samhita D (Samhita)
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Design and Habitat

Unit 10
Biomimicry
Biomimicry is a practice that learns from
and mimics the strategies found in nature to
solve human design challenges—and find
hope.

Biomimicry offers an empathetic, interconnected understanding of how life works and ultimately where
we fit in.

It is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies used by species alive today. After billions
years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what remains hold the secret to our
survival.

The goal is to create products, processes, and systems—new ways of living—that solve our greatest
design challenges sustainably and in solidarity with all life on earth. We can use biomimicry to not only
learn from nature’s wisdom, but also heal ourselves—and this planet—in the process.
Biomimicry
Design Champions
A literal interpretation is an organism in nature that has features or traits that make it
very good at doing something in a given environment. In biomimicry “design
champions” are organisms that have structures and processes that are great at
doing something that you want your design to do.

Right outside our door, we are surrounded by potential champions that could inspire
designs.

Sketch some natural artefacts or images of plants and animals (e.g. leaf, bird feather,
photo of butterfly).

Using the tool Think Pair Share, Teachers have students describe structures on the
organism, and describe what that structure does to help the organism (i.e., the function
of that structure)
Some implications….
What is a HABITAT?
Why Habitat in Design?

‘nature in design AND design in nature’


● Create products, processes, and systems—new ways of living—that solve our greatest
design challenges sustainably and in solidarity with all life on earth.

● Aesthetic, Managerial and Environmental aspects of the Design field

● Design fields related to Habitats; Designing amongst nature


Peacocks and Bodysuits
Statement: Jeff has been designing a biomimetic suit, based on the natural
characteristics of a peacock. Jeff has always been impressed by the peacock’s
exuberant tail features, which he hopes to imitate, in order to attract attention. He is
desperate to become a celebrity.
He has studied peacocks for years and used his extensive knowledge to design a suit
with all the attractive characteristics of the peacocks feathers.
What does this suit look like?
What does it do besides bringing aesthetics to the table?
What do feathers symbolise? How can their symbolism be abstracted?
Students focus on all aspects covered prior to building this design, keeping biomimicry principles in
mind.

The Design Thinking methodology to be adopted for this exercise.


Example
Fashion : Biomimicry task
Statement: Jeff has been designing a biomimetic suit,
based on the natural characteristics of a peacock. Jeff has
always been impressed by the peacock’s exuberant tail
features, which he hopes to imitate, in order to attract
attention. He is desperate to become a celebrity.
He has studied peacocks for years and used his extensive
knowledge to design a suit with all the attractive
characteristics of the peacocks feathers.
● What does this suit look like?
● What does it do besides bringing aesthetics to the
table?
● What do feathers symbolise? How can their symbolism
be abstracted? Paper

Students focus on all aspects covered prior to building this design,


keeping biomimicry principles in mind.
The Design Thinking methodology to be adopted for this exercise. Fabric Clay

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