Biomimetics for Designers: Applying Nature's Processes & Materials in the Real World

Biomimetics – imitating life’s natural processes – is one of the hottest areas of design research and inspiration. The natural world contains infinite examples of how to achieve complex behaviours and applications by using simple materials in a clever way, as all organisms make use of limited raw materials to survive. In the popular imagination, the best-known example is the microscopic ‘hook’ on burrs that led to the development of Velcro, but there are many more applications, from kingfisher beaks inspiring the shape of bullet trains to shark skin being used as a model for advanced swimsuits.

This book presents many examples, showing each natural phenomenon alongside its application, with an accessible explanation of the biology and the story of the design. While most are concrete examples that have already been developed, others point the way to what might be possible for an enterprising designer, providing a starting point for creativity. This timely overview is the perfect introduction for designers of all disciplines, and a reminder that inspiration may be just down the garden path.

With 439 illustrations

Veronika Kapsali is a Reader in Material Technology and Design at the London College of Fashion. In November 2014 she won the ITMA Future Materials award for INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR as a result of her work on INOTEK TM, a biomimetic fibre-based textile technology that uses moisture in clothing microclimate to create a mechanical response for advanced moisture management for MMT Textiles Ltd.