Performance Based Abstraction of Biomimicry Design Principles using Prototyping
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sample
2.2. Data Collection and Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Statistical Results on the Use of Prototyping among Biomimicry Practitioners
3.2. Thematic Analysis of Interview Data
3.2.1. Utility of Prototyping for Abstraction #1: form Finding and Approximation
3.2.2. Utility of Prototyping for Abstraction #2: Performance Testing
3.2.3. Utility of Prototyping for Abstraction #3: Cataloguing Biomimicry Design Principles
3.2.4. Utility of Prototyping for Transfer #1: Establishing a Prototyping Principle
3.2.5. Utility of Prototyping for Transfer #2: Dealing with Trade-Offs
3.2.6. Utility of Prototyping for Transfer #3: Proof of Transferrable Biomimicry Design Principle
3.2.7. The Effect of Prototypes on Cross-Domain Collaboration #1: Visualizing a Biomimicry Design Hypothesis
3.2.8. The Effect of Prototypes on Cross-Domain Collaboration #2: Optimizing Collaboratively
3.2.9. The Effect of Prototypes on Cross-Domain Collaboration #3: Self-Checking
4. Discussion
4.1. Performance-Based Abstraction of Biomimicry Design Principles through Prototyping
- Approximation: A ‘rough draft’ model of forms and structures, frequently in digital format, that closely approximates the morphology and behavior(s) of the biological reference.
- The Prototyping Principle: The selection of existing materials and fabrication methods that would serve as proxies to those used by the biological reference. In four cases, the prototyping principle influenced the participant’s choice of biological reference(s) and actually occurred prior to the approximation stage.
- Synthesis and Testing: The synthesis of the approximated model and the prototyping principle into a biomimicry design principle, testing the efficacy of the applied prototyping principle and the interpretation of the biological reference either physically, in a simulated environment, or both, and optimizing until expected functionality is achieved and project performance requirements are met.
- Validation: A decision making point where either the biomimicry design principle is validated and can progress forward into a design solution and potentially be stored in a catalogue of validated design principles, or whether there are more questions about whether the biological reference has been understood accurately and/or the choice in materials and fabrication method have been appropriately applied leading to further investigation.
4.2. Prototypes of Biomimicry Design Principles as Boundary Objects between the Distant Domains of Biology and Design
4.3. Limitations
4.4. Opportunities for Further Research
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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ID | Project Role | Application Areas | Project Types | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
P01 | Biologist | Product design | Architectural façade system | Europe |
P02 | Designer | Product design | Architectural façade system | Europe |
P03 | Biologist | Material science Product design | Structural color material Sports equipment | North America |
P04 | Designer | Product design | Urban agriculture system | Europe |
P05 | Urban agriculture expert | Product design | Urban agriculture system | North America |
P06 | Designer | Industrial design | Consumer packaging | Europe |
P07 | Biologist | Industrial design | Structural components | Europe |
P08 | Designer | Industrial design | Wine storage system | North America |
P09 | Designer | Product design | Soft seating | Europe |
P10 | Organic chemist | Material science | Soft seating | North America |
P11 | Engineer | Architecture | Structural systems | Europe |
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Rovalo, E.; McCardle, J. Performance Based Abstraction of Biomimicry Design Principles using Prototyping. Designs 2019, 3, 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/designs3030038
Rovalo E, McCardle J. Performance Based Abstraction of Biomimicry Design Principles using Prototyping. Designs. 2019; 3(3):38. https://doi.org/10.3390/designs3030038
Chicago/Turabian StyleRovalo, Erin, and John McCardle. 2019. "Performance Based Abstraction of Biomimicry Design Principles using Prototyping" Designs 3, no. 3: 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/designs3030038