Biomimicry Design Project
In 1941, a man named George de Mestral took off on a hike with his dog near his home in Switzerland. De Mestral would have enjoyed his hike, were it not for the pesky burdock burrs (seeds) that attached themselves to his clothing and his dog’s fur as they walked through the brush. A scientist at heart, de Mestral decided to examine the burdock seeds stuck in dog’s fur under a microscope when he returned home. He marveled at the ability of the burrs to attach themselves to the dog’s fur and wondered if the properties of the burrs could prove useful for human use (not to mention lucrative). Fast forward 14 years later to 1955, and after rigorous experimentation, de Mestral had patented a new invention by the name Velcro.
It would be difficult to find anyone today who doesn’t use velcro in some capacity on a regular basis, but most don’t realize that the product’s origins come from a much maligned, invasive weed. This process of designing and producing something inspired by nature is known as biomimicry.
Recently, here at Nature Links, we’ve been hard at work learning all about biomimicry. We’ve explored the way in which biomimicry is “smart”-- nature has more than 3 billion years of experience over humans. Biomimicry is also “sensitive” -- nature doesn’t usually create unnecessary waste or unsustainable solutions. From cars shaped like aquadynamic fish to stadiums shaped like birds nests, we explored countless examples of products designed using biomimicry. After exploring these products, we set out on a quest to use biomimicry solve some of life’s most frustrating, everyday problems.
During our biomimicry project, Nature Links participants formed design teams and discussed everyday problems that they wanted to solve. From cleaning dirty laundry, vacuuming, or preventing foggy glasses while wearing a mask, each team chose something that really frustrated them in their own lives. Students then took these problems to the research phase, utilizing a great resource called asknature.org. The web resource created by The Biomimicry Institute allows users to “ask nature” what strategies it uses to solve an impressive range of challenges. Users can read about how the emperor penguin’s feathers trap air to create warmth or how bacterial proteins conduct electricity. Informative articles that explain nature’s smartest problem-solving can help inspire creative thinking for human-designed products. As for Nature Links students, each team researched the ways in which plants and animals have already solved the pesky problems that plague us humans.
Students then entered the design phase where they were asked to brainstorm products or inventions that used nature’s lessons to approach their chosen challenge. The resulting designs, complete with drawings, product names and descriptions of how they could be used, are a testament to students’ creativity and teamwork. I invite you to check out a few of their designs below, and, as you go about your daily lives, stop to consider the ways in which the genius of nature has inspired a startling range of products we use every single day.
“Sticky Lens” designed by Kathrina and Paula. The team wanted to find a solution to the frustrating problem of foggy glasses while wearing a mask. The team researched the structure of a mosquito’s eye and the elements that allow their eyes to remain free of fog, despite living in damp, moist environments.
“The Vacuum Shoe” by Derian and Alex. This team bonded over their collective hatred of vacuuming, and designed a solution after researching the remora or “suckerfish”.
