Copying Nature in Design
The world is poorly designed. Using Mother Nature as Inspiration in Design
Have you ever downloaded an app, say Snapchat or Facebook, and felt that something was wrong, and then you check the reviews and found similar statements affirming your opinion. It’s not the user that is the problem then. It’s the design, so when solving a design problem, look to nature first.
Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.
Biomimicry in Graphics and UI Design
Today many graphic designers and UI designers use Fibonacci series and Golden Ratio born out of nature to produce visually appealing graphics.
When applied to design, the Golden Ratio simply provides us with a way of creating harmony and proportion that our subconscious mind seems to be attracted to.
The design doesn’t necessarily need to be shaped like a golden rectangle or triangle, but it can still employ elements that use golden proportions.
Biomimicry in Product Design
Bullet trains were causing a loud booming sound when exiting train tunnels. Engineers used a bird called a kingfisher to help redesign the bullet train. The unique shape of kingfishers bird while diving allows it to do that while creating a very little splash.
Biomimicry in UX Design
UX that doesn’t work well can be seen as not being in sync with the ways that humans naturally perceive and process things. Designers explore how information is processed and communicated between non-human species, especially when done without language and mimic the ways the human brain processes information.
Other Great Examples of Biomimicry:
Architecture — Ventilation systems inspired by termites
In nature, termites build skyscraper-like mounds that are ventilated by a complex system of tunnels. By emulating the ingenuity of termites, Zimbabwean architect Mick Pearce used an approach called biomimicry to design a natural cooling system that harnessed nature. The result is an architectural marvel that achieves 90 percent passive climate control by taking cool air into the building at night and expelling heat throughout the day.
Communication — Learning from dolphins how to send signals underwater
Scientists were able to develop underwater sensors that can transmit frequencies similar to those emitted by dolphins. By mimicking dolphin sound pattern, this equipment can continuously spread the signal energy over a wide range of frequencies and adapt the signal structure so that the multipath components do not interfere with each other.
Medicine — Learning from mosquitos to create “a nicer needle”
Materials researchers and engineers at Kansai University in Japan saw amazing potential in the structure of the mosquito’s mouth. They used sophisticated engineering techniques that can carve out structures on the nanometer scale. The result of this blend of materials science and biology was a needle that penetrates like a mosquito, using pressure to stabilize and painlessly glide into the skin. Tests proved it worked flawlessly.
Military & Commercial Service — Artificial military “skin” inspired by Cephalopod Camouflage
Researchers are studying texture-changing octopus skin to see if the military can use its camouflaging properties.
The professors at Cornell [University in New York] were inspired by how an octopus can change the texture and color of its skin to blend in with its surroundings. Humans have this ability with goosebumps but without the ability to control it as an octopus can.
They could engineer a more sophisticated way of controlling the growth of textual variation that’s more advanced than just blowing up a balloon.
The basic research is in the early stages, but the team hopes to have the material change color and texture at the same time.
Energy — Learning from humpback whales how to create efficient Wind Turbines
In 2004, scientists discovered that the bumps at the front edge of a whale fin greatly increase its efficiency, reducing drag by 32 percent and increasing lift by 8 percent. Companies like Whale Power are borrowing this concept and creating wind turbine blades that greatly boost the amount of energy created per turbine. Other companies are applying the idea to cooling fans, airplane wings, and propellers.
Life has been around on earth for 3.8 billion years, that is a lot of research and development time. People who design our world have a lot to learn from the natural world.
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