Biomimicry - When Art Imitates Life

Many of the world’s most advanced designs and creations took direct inspiration from things existing in nature. The practice is called biomimicry and it has helped us solve countless design challenges, pushing the world forward.

The form of imitation can vary. Some instances focus on the functionality, while others imitate just the silhouettes.

The B-2 bomber is a famous example of biomimicry as its silhouette pulls heavily from the aerodynamic profile of the peregrine falcon (the fastest animal on earth). Other designs focus entirely on functionality over resemblance, like Velcro, which pulls from burdock plants (slide 7).

Nature is our greatest teacher, and while our human made designs and creations are something to behold, there will never be a better designer than Mother Nature herself.