Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nature Inspired Design—A Review from an Industrial Design Perspective

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Research into Design for Communities, Volume 2 (ICoRD 2017)

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 66))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The paper, an ongoing doctoral research, makes an inquiry into nature inspired design from an industrial design perspective. The study examines various systematic methods developed by researchers and finds that they are strongly function oriented while methods adopted by industrial designers are based on observation of natural systems for nature inspired design. Literature review indicates that researchers and designers work under different environments and constraints, and further finds that the approach taken by designers face criticism as well as support to their methods. This paper highlights that existing researches are dominantly focused on functional aspects while aspects that deals with the form are not sufficiently explored for nature inspired products. It also suggests the importance for the design community to extrapolate methods that are based on design science principles in seeking creative solutions for nature inspired products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Vincent, J.F.V., Bogatyreva, O.A., Bogatyrev, N.R., Bowyer, A., Pahl, A.: Biomimetics: its practice and theory. J. R. Soc. Interface 2006(3), 471–482 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gleich, A.V., Pade, C., Petschow, U., Pissarskoi, E.: Potentials and Trends in Biomimetics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg (2010)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Benyus, J.M.: Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. William Morrow, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Goel, A.K., McAdams, D.A., Stone, R.B.: Biologically inspired design. J. Mech. Des. 135(7), (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wood, G.: The shapes of life: Biomorphism and American design. In: Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design. London (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Speck, T., Speck, O.: Process sequences in biomimetic research. Design and nature IV. WIT Trans. Ecol. Environ. 114, 3–11 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Helms, M., Vattam, S.S., Goel, A.K.: Biologically inspired design process and products. Des. Stud. 30, 606–622 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gebeshuber, I.C., Drack, M.: An attempt to reveal synergies between biology and mechanical engineering. J. Mech. Eng. Sci., Proc. IMechE 222, 1281–1287 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baumeister, D.: Biomimicry Resource Handbook: A Seed Bank of Knowledge and Best Practices. Biomimicry 3.8, Missoula, Montana (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Badarnah, L., Kadri, U.: A methodology for the generation of biomimetic design concepts. Architectural Sci. Rev. 58(2), 120–133 (2015) (Taylor & Francis)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Junior, W.K., Guanabara, A.S.: Methodology for product design based on the study of bionics. Mater. Des. 26, 149–155 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wen, H., Zhang, S., Hapeshi, K., Wang, X.: An innovative methodology of product design from nature. J. Bionic Eng. 5, 75–84 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lenau, T.: Biomimetics as a design methodology—Possibilities and challenges. In: International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED’09, pp. 121–132 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kaiser, M.K., Farzaneh, H.H., Lindemann, U.: An approach to support searching for biomimetic solutions based on system characteristics and its environmental interactions, pp. 969–978 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fu, K., Moreno, D., Yang, M., Wood, K.L.: Bio-Inspired design: an overview investigating open questions from the broader field of design-by-analogy. J. Mech. Des. 136 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Glier, M.W., McAdams, D.A., Linsey, J.S.: Concepts in biomimetic design: methods and tools to incorporate into a biomimetic design course. In: IDETC/CIE 2011, ASME (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Helms, M.K., Farzaneh, H.H., Lindemann, U.: Creating bio-inspired solution ideas using biological research articles. In: Corazza, G.E., Agnoli, S. (eds.) Creativity in the Twenty First Century Multidisciplinary Contributions to the Science of Creative Thinking, pp. 215–232 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chakrabarti, A., Sarkar, P., Leelavathamma, I.B.: A functional representation for aiding biomimetic and artificial inspiration of new ideas. Artif. Intell. Eng. Des. Anal. Manuf. 9, 113–132 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Vattam, S., Wiltgen, B., Helms, M., Goel, A., Yen, J.: DANE: Fostering creativity in and through biologically inspired design. In: Proceedings of First International Conference on Design Creativity, Kobe, Japan, pp. 115–122 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  20. AskNature by Biomimicry 3.8, http://www.asknature.org/. Visited on 23 Sept 2015

  21. Kaiser, M.K., Farzaneh, H.H., Lindemann, U.: BIOscrabble-extraction of biological analogies out of large text sources. In: 5th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management, pp. 10–20 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Vandevenne, D., Caicedo, J., Verhaegen, P.-A., Dewulf, S., Duflou, J.R.: Webcrawling for a biological strategy corpus to support biologically-inspired design. In: Chakrabarti, A. (ed.) CIRP Design 2012: Sustainable Product Development, pp. 83–92. Springer, London (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Vattam, S., Goel, A.K.: Foraging for inspiration: Understanding and supporting the online information seeking practices of biologically inspired designers. In: Proceedings of the ASME DETC Conference on Design Theory and Methodology, Washington DC, pp. 177–186 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Volstad, N.L., Boks, C.: On the use of biomimicry as a useful tool for the industrial designer. Sust. Dev. 20, 189–199 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lynch-caris, T.M.: Biomimicry innovation as a tool for design. American Society for Engineering Education, AC 2012–3473 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  26. De Pauw, I.C., Karana, E., Kandachar, P., Poppelaars, F.: Comparing biomimicry and cradle to cradle with ecodesign: a case study of student design projects. J. Clean. Prod. 78, 174–183 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. De Pauw, I., Kandachar, P., Karana, E., Peck, D., Wever, R.: Nature inspired design: Strategies towards sustainability. In: ERSCP-EMSU Conference on Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation, pp. 1–21 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Hsiao, H., Chou, W.: Using biomimetic design in a product design course. World Trans. Eng. Technol. Edu. 6(1), 31–35 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Versos, C.A.M., Coelho, D.A.: Biologically Inspired Design: Methods and Validation. Ind. Des. – New Front. (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Jorgensen, T.K., Kjeldsen, L.L.K., Lenau, T.A.: Applied aesthetics in biomimetic design—A guide. Technical University of Denmark (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Kennedy, B.: The application of bio-inspiration to human- centered product design. Int. J. Des. Nat. Ecodyn. 9(3), 230–236 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Huang, Y., Li, J.: Generative product design inspired by natural information. In: Yamamoto, S. (ed.) HIMI 2014, Part I, LNCS 8521, pp. 583–593. Springer, Switzerland (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Tovey, M.: Styling and design: intuition and analysis in industrial design. Des. Stud. 18, 5–31 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Hsiao, S., Wang, H.: Applying the semantic transformation method to product form design. Des. Stud. 19, 309–330 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Tovey, M.: Form creation techniques for automotive CAD. Des. Stud. 15, 85–114 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Kamehkhosh, P., Ajdari, A., Khodadadeh, Y.: Design naturally, dealing with complexity of forms in nature & applying it in product design. Des. Complex., DRS 2010, 748–763 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wu, T., Chang, W.: The study of products with bios forms in conveying pleasure. Int. Assoc. Soc. Des. Res. The Hong Kong Polytech. Univ. 1–14 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  38. El-zeiny, R.M.A.: Biomimicry as a problem solving methodology in interior architecture. Soc. Behav. Sci. 50, 502–512 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Lepora, N.F., Verschure, P., Prescott, T.J.: The state of the art in biomimetics. Bioinspiration Biomimetics 8, 1–11 (2013). IOP publishing

    Google Scholar 

  40. Wilson, E.O.: Biophilia: The Human Bond with Other Species. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S.: The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Ulrich, R.S., Simons, R.F., Losito, B.D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M.A., Zelson, M.: Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. J. Environ. Psychol. 11, 201–230 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Parsons, R.: The potential influences of environmental perception on human health. J. Environ. Psychol. 11, 1–23 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Gillis, K., Gatersleben, B.: A review of psychological literature on the health and wellbeing benefits of biophilic design. Buildings 5, 948–963 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Kellert, S.R., Heerwagen, J.H., Mador, M.L.: Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life. Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Hekkert, P., Cila, N.: Handle with care! Why and how designers make use of product metaphors. Des. Stud. 40, 196–217 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Wilson, J.O., Rosen, D., Nelson, B.A., Yen, J.: The effects of biological examples in idea generation. Des. Stud. 31(2), 169–186 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Podborschi, V., Vaculenco, M.: Natural shapes: a source of inspiration for eco-design. Prod. Eng. 111–120 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Chang, W., Wu, T.: Exploring types and characteristics of product forms. Int. J. Des. 1(1) (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Burgess, S.C., King, A.M.: The application of animal forms in automotive styling. Des. J. 7(3), 41–52 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Kim, J.E., Bouchard, C., Bianchi-berthouze, N., Aoussat, A.: Measuring semantic and emotional responses to bio-inspired design. In: Taura, T., Nagai, Y. (eds.) Design Creativity 2010, pp. 131–138. Springer, London (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  52. Chakrabarti, A., Gupta, A.: Design for emotions. In: International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED’07, pp. 1–12 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India

    Shiv Kumar Verma & Ravi Mokashi Punekar

Authors
  1. Shiv Kumar Verma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ravi Mokashi Punekar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shiv Kumar Verma .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India

    Amaresh Chakrabarti

  2. Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India

    Debkumar Chakrabarti

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Verma, S.K., Punekar, R.M. (2017). Nature Inspired Design—A Review from an Industrial Design Perspective. In: Chakrabarti, A., Chakrabarti, D. (eds) Research into Design for Communities, Volume 2. ICoRD 2017. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 66. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3521-0_74

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3521-0_74

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-3520-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-3521-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation