A new methodology of engineering design, Biomimicry Design, introduces a completely logical and intriguing way of thinking. Its foundation, rooted in nature’s ingenious system of biomimicry, is both innovative and unique. The word biomimicry can be broken down into the words “bio,” which means life, and “mimesis,” or to imitate.

Biomimicry Design (BD) aims to explore, understand, and replicate the cutting-edge designs found in natural existence. After all, design in nature has been experimented, tested, and retested for thousands and millions of years by evolution.

And what better testing ground is there than Earth itself?

Velcro, for example, was inspired by the way burrs stick to fur – the scratchy side representing the burr and the soft side representing the fur. Termite mounds that demonstrate an impressive method of passive cooling which keeps their homes at a stable temperature year-round, withstanding external fluctuations that range from 37 °F to 107 °F (3 °C to 42 °C), have become an inexpensive model for building design. The super-adhesion of “Gecko Tape” has been modeled after geckos’ innate ability to climb a range of surfaces due to nanoscopic, flexible hairs found on their feet. The architectural pattern of the Galapagos shark’s skin keeps bacteria from landing and adhering, and thus technology mimicking this pattern allows for cleaner, safer surfaces for hospitals rather than overusing anti-bacterial chemicals.

BD allows for the principles of nature to be transformed into sustainable design strategies – a relationship between humans and nature based on partnership rather than exploitation.

The Biomimicry Institute, founded in 2005, has been internationally recognized for its new approach to design referred to as the “system” and “process” level. Founder and president Janine Beynus summarizes biomimicry’s core ideas of using nature in a three word philosophy: model, measure, and mentor.

“Biomimicry [design] uses an ecological standard to judge the sustainability of our innovations.  After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned what works and what lasts.” Janine Beynus

By using nature as a model, measure, and mentor, BD asserts that sustainable innovation will result and even allow for sustainable processes of manufacturing and disassembly. As Janine recognizes that organisms, or “life’s geniuses”, have been inventing the similar things humans needs, she encourages inventors and innovators to ask themselves, “How would nature solve this?”
Researcher A. K. Geim (University of Manchester) pioneered the sustainability potential of gecko tape to be used in the assembly of products instead of using adhesive-contaminated glue. This allows new pathways of product dis-assembly made easier for environmentally-safe recycling.

Additionally, nature provides a model of processes beyond products. UPS delivery truck tracks model off of the behavior of ant colonies. The optimization of natural selection has been mimicked by several companies developing efficient computer software tools. In short, sustainable design strategy is epitomized by nature’s self-sufficiency and efficiency, with millions of years to prove its efficacy.

BD has gained popularity over the last few years with hundreds of companies and organizations recognizing its innovation. Proclaimed as “sustainable innovation inspired by nature”, the Biomimicry Institute also launched an online database of “nature’s solutions” at AskNature.org.

Photo Credit: Matthijs Rouw.