Bio-mimicry is using nature and biology as a guideline to ideation and design.
People rarely create completely new technologies rather they build upon previous ideas. This is true in nature as it has evolved. Bio-mimicry is using nature as a basis and template from which to create designs. The focus is identifying what one hopes to produce and then looking at how nature has also accomplished that task. For example if you wanted to design body armor one might review how animals have evolved to avoid predators and this could greatly impact design. What if instead of focusing on protective armor now the designer focused on blending in mirroring a chameleon method. This method really stresses users to think about the final outcome and start from the beginning coming up with all potential solutions to the problem. It forces the user to consider evolution and to consider how things evolve in nature and use that as a lesson or guide for decision making.
Parker Hannifin used bio-mimicry to develop a flexible hose that functioned like a snake’s skin and was more durable for their client.
They had a client that was losing production because hoses kept breaking and needed replacement and this snakeskin evolution solved their problem. There have been millions of products designed around nature. Consider even airplanes which are very much molded after birds with wings. There are companies developing products based on jellyfish for propulsion and fireflies as a light source and many more examples in nature (Bagley, 2017).
Leaders could leverage Bio-mimicry in a variety of forms and functions. I think one of the main ways it could be utilized is during the ideation phase of innovation. Leaders could identify the problem they are trying to solve and then list how that problem is typically solved in nature or some ways it is solved in nature and then see if they can mold their idea around any existing natural structure. For instance we observed how much plants grow from photosynthesis and have adapted our own energy needs based on the sun and solar power. Perhaps there are more advancements in the solar field to be gained from studying plants and their absorption of the sun’s rays. Another way leaders could use Bio-mimicry is to learn from the past.There are many examples of things that have wiped a species out and perhaps learning from those examples could help guide future decisions. Take the shark for example; a species that cannot swim backwards, much like a business that never takes a look back and is always moving forward that can cause problems.These real life examples of struggles in nature can be used to connect problems business and innovations face everyday and potentially help leaders avoid pitfalls. The last and greatest lesson that Bio-mimicry teaches is the continuity of change and evolution. As leaders look around and realize that life is always changing and evolving they should allow for their companies to also mimic that evolutionary cycle. Companies need to innovate for success as does nature.Nature’s constant evolution is one of its miracles and it exemplifies a clear message that innovation and change are a part of life. When you’re innovating you must be flexible and open to change and see how the future may require pivots. Bio-mimicry still has much to teach our world and the innovations we create.
Bagley, R. (2017). Biomimicry: How Nature Can Streamline Your Business For Innovation. Forbes. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
