Biologically Inspired design

1. Bio Inspired Design
Developing sustainable products that perform
What is it?
Bio Inspired Design, is about studying nature to discov-
er what products should be like, if they would contribute
to a sustainable society.
Three levels
Nature can be studied at three levels:
1. Form - natural structures, shapes and functionalities
2. Process - mechanisms behind the development of
natural elements
3. System - cooperations and connections between at-
ural elements, that form entire self-supporting systems
Why use it?
Nature has 3.8 billion years of experience with perform-
ing the most complex functions, while being sustain-
able.
The goal
Develop sustainable products that perform, and fit in
their environment just like organisms would in their eco-
systems.

2. How to apply it?
With three tools, Bio Inpired Design can be implement-
ed in any product development process. Using these,
your product will become a valuable part of its environ-
ment.
Environment scan
What are the products basic functionalities? What ener-
gies, forces, materials, and organisms are present in
its environment? What are the needs of the main user?
Draw a map, and connect the product’s functions with
its environment. It will show you why the product does
what it does, and what possibilities are present, to add
value to its environment.
Asknature.org
You know the funtions of the product, but how to real-
ize them? The database at asknature.org shows over
a thousand strategies animals use to realize the most
complex functions. Browse around, and get inspired!
LIfe’s Principles
To fit in an ecosystem, you have to follow general rules
and strategies. Decades of experience of biologists and
ecologists have been summarized in a comprehensive
collection of Life’s principles. Use them to create ideas,
and to evaluate if your product is fit for its place in the
ecosystem.

4. Get started
Good sources are available on Bio Inspired Design. Start looking at
nature to design better products:
Watch
“Dat willen wij ook”
Dutch documentary series on bioinspired innovations. Available for
free at noorderlicht.vpro.nl/dossiers
Explore
www.asknature.org
An online database composed by biologists and engineers with
nature’s best strategies to perform.
Read
Janine Benyus: Biomimicry, innovation inspired by nature, 1997,
Harper Perennial
Standard work on biomimicry. Many examples of research, and an
evaluation of the value of Biomimicry.
Contact
More questions or looking for advice?
Visit my website or contact me:
www.ernstjanmul.com
contact@ernstjanmul.com
“Life’s Principles” taken from www.biomimicryinstitute.org
Ernst-Jan Mul 2010