The real power of sustainability and triple bottom-line thinking is that it inspires innovation in design – of products, processes, buildings and organizations. Many of the leaders who are putting this power to work agree that biomimicry is the leading edge of design and Janine Benyus is its inspiring force. Her book, Biomimicry, shows how nature’s wisdom and power can help us solve the most challenging problems in our societies. Janine is calling for a biologist at every design table, and multi-national companies are doing just that. Biomimicry is now the leading-edge thinking around design tables at Dupont, Interface, Herman Miller, and Nike.

Guided by our “Connect, Learn, Do” change process and with the help of our strategic partners, E4S has been a catalyst in the birth of the sustainability economy in the region. If Cleveland+ is planning to grow the regional economy by embracing its design assets, we must ask the question: How might the Cleveland+ design community Connect, Learn and Do Biomimicry?

E4S, The Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at CWRU, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Natural History Museum, and others are collaborating with internationally known experts from the Biomimicry Guild to plant the design strategies of Biomimicry into product, process, building and organizational design in our region. We are proposing four stages of collaboration that will evolve over the next year to include national speaker events, workshops, design contests and other learning opportunities.

The Biomimicry Guild is the only innovation company in the world to use a deep knowledge of biological adaptations such as studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell to help designers, engineers, architects, and business leaders solve design and engineering challenges. To hear Janine explain the origins of biomimicry click here. For more information and more videos of Janine, visit our web page What is Biomimicry?

Since December 2000 E4S has attracted over 4000 entrepreneurs and change agents from all sectors of the Cleveland+ economy who are putting sustainability to work for their businesses and organizations. It is time to bring Biomimicry to this region and transform the design of our products, our lives and our communities for a more sustainable future.

We hope you will join us!

• Ticket Prices
  $30 - For Non-Members
  $25 - For E4S Members
  $20 - For Students with a Student ID
  
  
• Cash and checks will be accepted at the door.
  
  
• Parking
  at the CIeveland Institute of Art is free for this event, but limited.
  The Institute is located in the University Circle, please visit this link for more parking information.
  
  
• For directions to the Cleveland Institute of Art (11141 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106) follow this link.
  

Program Sponsors:

Event Sponsors:
ArcelorMittal
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Fairmount Minerals
Good Nature Organic Lawn Care
Hawkins Leadership Strategies
Karpinski Engineering
Kurtz Bros.
Moen
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
Oatey