The goal of this course is to introduce students to the field of “Bio-Inspiration” and allow you to look at nature as a source of (design) knowledge. The beginning of the course is literature focused but slowly moves to learning designing skills and then starting to create designs with nature in mind
We start by looking at the sustainability problem through a biological and systems view lens. We then research the concepts of bio-inspiration, as a response to this sustainability problem, by looking into approaches such as biomimicry, bionics, natural capitalism, biophilia, circular economy and cradle to cradle. Students will be able to begin to compare, contrast and classify these approaches extracting the best practices from each. This new bio inspired approach will become the lens through which we start to approach design. We will then move to using the biomimicry approach, with students understanding how to ‘biologize’ the functions of design and then researching biological models (animals/plants/ecosystems) that contain these functions. The students will then begin to describe these functions in a way that designers or engineers can understand. Finally, we will address design as a discipline and process. In this way you can start to formulate and explore possibilities for innovation at a product, process or systems innovation level and start thinking of your own a sustainable design.
Student can distinguish different bio-inspired approaches
Student is able to understand the philosophical and historical roots of the concept of bio-inspiration and biomimicry
Student is able to relate and classify different bio-inspired approaches
Student is able to select different elements from different approaches (depending on the context or level) as a step toward application.
Student can apply biological knowledge in a design context
Student can determine the scope of a desired innovation or change and specify the function(-s) that needs to be ‘biologized’ of a product, process or system.
Student reflects on the intricacies of combining disciplinary insights
A background in natural science is advisable and some knowledge of biology will be helpful.
Working method
This is an online course stretching over 10 weeks with a study load of approximately 7 hours per week. The course is ‘online asynchronous’ meaning you can take part from abroad or whilst doing another course or internship. During the course, you will do individual study, supported by 3 online meetings in order to complete assignments. You will also form a learning community with your peers, helping to provide feedback on each other’s work. To help you in this, online moderators will provide prompts and feedback too.
Assessment
The course mostly consists of pass/fail assignments which use a variety of methods from creating memos, hosting your own podcast and presenting designs. The majority of your grade comes from two assessments at the end of the course, the design brief (45%) and the biological models assignment (45%). The remainder comes from participation within the learning community (10%)
Transcript of records
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
