Biomimicry is the leading edge thinking around
design tables at Interface, Nike, Dupont, Herman Miller, Proctor and
Gamble, and more. Regional universities are completing Biomimetic
research and product design. If Northeast Ohio is planning to grow the
regional economy by embracing its design assets, we must ask: How might
the Biomimicry Network Connect, Learn and Do Biomimicry?
We suggest that by building the social and
knowledge infrastructure for Biomimicry in the region we will evolve
the local design DNA to include Biomimicry. This new way of thinking
will spur innovation and research, create businesses, careers and
meaningful work and put our region on the global design map as the
first region in the nation to embrace biomimicry in an organized
fashion. The best way to build a network is through collaboration, thus
the Biomimicry Design Collaborative was born. In 2007 - 2008 this
group met seven times to learn and to practice biomimicry. In 2009 E4S
is advancing the work of the Biomimicry Design Collaborative by
launching a Biomimciry Network in Northeast Ohio and exploring the
opportunities to create a regional Biomimicry Center.
A new way of thinking that will spur innovation creating businesses, careers and meaningful work
Inform existing industry to address existing challenges - Solve problems in a new way
Leverage design assets of community
Another tool for design and sustainable design – expand or change the design paradigm
Improve the perception of the region- Put region on the Biomimicry map as a place where theory meets action
Appreciation of nature – reconnect us with nature that has spend 3.8 billion years in trial and error design research.
Future of design, Future of sustainability
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What is the purpose of the Biomimicry Network?
To build the social, learning, technology, business and Action infrastructure for Biomimicry in the region
To evolve the local design DNA to include Biomimicry.
To put NEO on the global design map as the first region in the nation to embrace biomimicry in an organized fashion.
Change awareness – create a tipping point
Unique
opportunity to do collaborative programming and strategic
marketing/messaging that will bring innovation to our organizations
Shared discovery
Using best of our assets together to make a difference
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What might success look like?
Establishment
of the social and knowledge infrastructure (an interactive documented
and mapped on line infrastructure by the end of 2008) dedicated to
ensuring that our local design industry considers the knowledge of the
natural world in their methodology. Social infrastructure includes
researchers, designers, engineers, architects, products/businesses and
others implementing Biomimicry. Knowledge infrastructure includes
programs, courses, design contests, museum displays, etc.
New collaboration between universities, institutions and non-profits that will build our local knowledge of Biomimicry.
Five new product designs that utilized Biomimicry.
National
media coverage of the unique advancement of Biomimicry in the region
that will benefit both the field of Biomimicry and the economic welfare
of our region.
Other strong
possibilities: a national design contest, becoming the third location
where Biomimicry knowledge is advanced in a 7 day course: Costa Rico,
Peru and Cleveland. A BHAG could be a Biomimicry Institute located in
the Cuyahoga Valley.
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How will the Biomimicry Network impact the economy?
Research and Development – inspiring R&D at local universities and small technology start-up organizations
Manufacturing
– fostering innovation in product development and process improvement
through closer examination of what surrounds us
New start-ups – transferring new technology for university R&D to the market
Construction – exploring common sense approaches to structure and system design in the built environment
Academia – inspiring students and faculty of local design and engineering programs to look to nature as mentor
Community Development – discovering new solutions based on how nature organizes itself
Ecological Restoration – promoting ideas based on how the natural world handles waste, disruptions, and change
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What
can the Biomimicry Network participants do together or individually to
seed biomimicry and build the biomimicry infrastructure?
Past Biomimicry Events in NEO:
E4S September 25, 2007 – E4S day long programming of Future of Design: Biomimcry with Janine Benyus. See results here.
CVI September 26, 2007 – Tour Valley with CVI.
E4S October 16, 2007 – E4S Third Tuesday Network Event – Regional Examples of Biomimicry
Market Beaming Bioneers programming that relates to Biomimicry at the Sept. 25th event
E4S January 7-9 E4S/Biomimicry Guild Workshop
E4S David Oakey, Catheryn Bragdon – Spring 2008
CASE/BAWB Spring 2008 Speaker Series
CASE/BAWB Fall 2008 Forum on Sustainable Design
Potential:
Create strategic messaging marketing for specific groups
Convene design charrettes
Design charrette on a local problem using biomimicry
E4S Akron/Canton Network event
Cross university collaborations in curriculum and design projects
Create a place in Cleveland Design District to display Biomimicry – Biomimicry Haus
Design contests – students, professionals, IDSA, Design District
Create educational displays at museums
Train others to give Biomimicry presentations
Create triple bottom line case studies
Link industrial designers with scientists/biologists
Seed Biomimicry into curriculum
Shared portal on Biomimicry, Create shared web page of local, related events
Find examples, celebrate and build more
Collaborate with other regions who are working on biomimicry
Design contest
Seed biomimicry into CVI, Network Members, Regional Scale
Inform K-12 curriculum at college level about natural world
CASE/BAWB Company Labs
Reflection
"We will be called to participate in changes that are deeply personal and inherently systemic to create the world anew." ~ Presence
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Reflection