BIOMIMICRY

Biomimicry is an approach to model what we do after forms and activities found in nature. Applications range from building design to organic chemistry to inventions such as Velcro and airplane wings. As a design professional, inspiration is a constant challenge but is also that which makes or breaks a great design.

Humans over the centuries have gravitated toward straight lines in our constructions primarily due to utility but I believe the most pleasing (and also very often the most efficient) designs have been more organic in nature. The examples I look to the most are works by architects such as Bruce Goff, Frank Lloyd Wright in his later years, and, more recently, Santiago Calatrava.

Another area of fascination to me is the Fibonacci sequence which can be seen as a sort of biomimicry in reverse. Creation of seemingly random organic shapes in nature actually follow a precise mathematical progression named for the Italian mathematician who published it in his book "Liber Abaci" in 1202. It leads to the famous "Golden ratio" which has been used by designers for centuries in the pursuit of creating beauty.