The Biomimicry Resource Handbook: A Seed Bank of Best Practices contains over 250 pages of our most current biomimicry thinking, methodology, and tools for naturalizing biomimicry into the culture. We believe there is no better design partner than nature. But biomimicry is more than just looking at the shape of a flower or dragonfly and becoming newly inspired; it's a methodology that's being used by some of the biggest companies and innovative universities in the world. While reading this text you'll be immersed into the world of Biomimicry the "verb", you'll gain a competitive edge, and a fresh perspective on how the world around us can, does, and should work. After reading the text, you'll be well on your way to thinking in systems, designing in context, identifying patterns, and most importantly seeing the millions of organisms around us....differently. The text is directly applicable to designers, biologists, engineers, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, but has also proven valuable to students, educators, and a wide variety of other disciplines. Visit biomimicry.net to learn more. A digital version is available at shop.biomimicrygroup.com

Repackaged with a new afterword, this "valuable and entertaining" (New York Times Book Review) book explores how scientists are adapting nature's best ideas to solve tough 21st century problems. Biomimicry is rapidly transforming life on earth. Biomimics study nature's most successful ideas over the past 3.5 million years, and adapt them for human use. The results are revolutionizing how materials are invented and how we compute, heal ourselves, repair the environment, and feed the world. Janine Benyus takes readers into the lab and in the field with maverick thinkers as they: discover miracle drugs by watching what chimps eat when they're sick; learn how to create by watching spiders weave fibers; harness energy by examining how a leaf converts sunlight into fuel in trillionths of a second; and many more examples. Composed of stories of vision and invention, personalities and pipe dreams, Biomimicry is must reading for anyone interested in the shape of our future.

The Handbook of the Circular Economy takes a unique look at this rapidly expanding field of activity from the perspectives of global thought leaders, world-leading researchers and industry. Exploring both transitional activity and considering a transformed Circular Economy the book is presented in three distinct sections: section one includes first-hand ideas and opinions from some of the biggest names in our 21st century Circular Economy landscape. The second section includes empirical work that considers the state-of-the-art in research from a host of perspectives ranging from accounting to innovation, from policy to communities of practice. The final section includes brief examples of leading industrial innovations that are aiming to change the world. Suitable for students, researchers, policy-makers and industrialists this handbook highlights many of the challenges we face in shifting away from our linear economy.

The solutions to technical challenges posed by flight and space exploration tend to be multidimensional, multifunctional, and increasingly focused on the interaction of systems and their environment. The growing discipline of biomimicry focuses on what humanity can learn from the natural world. Biomimicry for Aerospace: Technologies and Applications features the latest advances of bioinspired materials–properties relationships for aerospace applications. Readers will get a deep dive into the utility of biomimetics to solve a number of technical challenges in aeronautics and space exploration. Part I: Biomimicry in Aerospace: Education, Design, and Inspiration provides an educational background to biomimicry applied for aerospace applications. Part II: Biomimetic Design: Aerospace and Other Practical Applications discusses applications and practical aspects of biomimetic design for aerospace and terrestrial applications and its cross-disciplinary nature. Part III: Biomimicry and Foundational Aerospace Disciplines covers snake-inspired robots, biomimetic advances in photovoltaics, electric aircraft cooling by bioinspired exergy management, and surrogate model-driven bioinspired optimization algorithms for large-scale and complex problems. Finally, Part IV: Bio-Inspired Materials, Manufacturing, and Structures reviews nature-inspired materials and processes for space exploration, gecko-inspired adhesives, bioinspired automated integrated circuit manufacturing on the Moon and Mars, and smart deployable space structures inspired by nature. - Introduces educational aspects of bio-inspired design for novel and practical technologies - Presents a series of bio-inspired technologies applicable to the field of aerospace engineering - Provides an introduction to nature-inspired design and engineering and its relevance to planning and developing the next generation of robotic and human space missions

This book seeks to establish the meaning of design research, its role in the field, and the characteristics that differentiate research in design from research in other fields. The author introduces a model to explain the relationship between the components of the ontological reality of design: the designed object, the designer, and the user. Addressing design research across disciplines, the author establishes a foundational understanding of research, and research paradigms, for the design disciplines. This will be crucial for the emerging field of design research to find its own identity and move forward, building its own knowledge base as it finds its positioning between science and art. The book will be of interest to scholars working in design history, design studies, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, architecture, fashion design, and service design.

Laser powder bed fusion of metals is a technology that makes use of a laser beam to selectively melt metal powder layer-by-layer in order to fabricate complex geometries in high performance materials. The technology is currently transforming aerospace and biomedical manufacturing and its adoption is widening into other industries as well, including automotive, energy, and traditional manufacturing. With an increase in design freedom brought to bear by additive manufacturing, new opportunities are emerging for designs not possible previously and in material systems that now provide sufficient performance to be qualified in end-use mission-critical applications. After decades of research and development, laser powder bed fusion is now enabling a new era of digitally driven manufacturing. Fundamentals of Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Metals will provide the fundamental principles in a broad range of topics relating to metal laser powder bed fusion. The target audience includes new users, focusing on graduate and undergraduate students; however, this book can also serve as a reference for experienced users as well, including senior researchers and engineers in industry. The current best practices are discussed in detail, as well as the limitations, challenges, and potential research and commercial opportunities moving forward. - Presents laser powder bed fusion fundamentals, as well as their inherent challenges - Provides an up-to-date summary of this advancing technology and its potential - Provides a comprehensive textbook for universities, as well as a reference for industry - Acts as quick-reference guide

Design and Science addresses the inter-relationship, in both historical and contemporary contexts, between design thinking and design processes and scientific and medical research methods. Contributors address the parallels between research methodologies in design and the sciences, both of which involve the recognition of an issue, conceptualisation of ways to resolve it, and then the modelling and implementation of a viable solution. Much research across various scientific disciplines follows a similar pattern. Thematic sections explore visualisation, visual narrative and visual metaphor; biodesign and biomimicry; makers and users in design and science, and data visualisation, discussing the role of data from nature as an ultimate source of design.

The business of biomimicry involves drawing inspiration from living organisms and natural systems to solve human challenges and create sustainable innovations. It is based on the idea that nature has evolved efficient and elegant solutions over millions of years, and by emulating those solutions, we can develop more sustainable and effective products, processes, and systems. Biomimicry offers several benefits in the business world. First, it provides a framework for sustainable innovation. By studying how nature solves problems, businesses can develop products and processes that are more resource-efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly. This can lead to cost savings, improved performance, and a reduced ecological footprint. Second, biomimicry promotes a shift toward regenerative design. Rather than just minimizing harm to the environment, biomimicry encourages businesses to create positive impacts by emulating nature’s capacity for regeneration and creating systems that support the health and well-being of ecosystems. Third, biomimicry fosters creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration. By looking at nature’s strategies, designers, engineers, and scientists can find novel and unexpected solutions to complex problems. This interdisciplinary approach encourages collaboration across fields and fosters innovation. Overall, the wisdom of living organisms, as observed through biomimicry, provides valuable insights and lessons that can inform business practices. By emulating nature’s solutions, businesses can drive innovation, create sustainable products and processes, and contribute to a more regenerative and resilient economy.

Reintroducing Materials for Sustainable Design provides instrumental theory and practical guidance to bring materials back into a central role in the design process and education. To create designs that are sustainable and respond to current environmental, economic and cultural concerns, practitioners and educators require a clear framework for materials use in design and product manufacturing. While much has been written about sustainable design over the last two decades, outlining systems of sustainability and product criteria, to design for material circularity requires a detailed understanding of the physical matter that constitutes products. Designers must not just know of materials but know how to manipulate them and work with them creatively. This book responds to the gap by offering a way to acquire the material knowledge necessary to design physical objects for sustainability. It reinforces the key role and responsibility of designers and encourages designers to take back control over the ideation and manufacturing process. Finally, it discusses the educational practice involved and the potential implications for design education following implementation, addressing didactics, facilities and expertise. This guide is a must-read for designers, educators and researchers engaged in sustainable product design and materials.