The Evolution of Design Process - Sustainable Design: The Science of Sustainability and Green Engineering - page 26

Nature demonstrates beautifully how scientific principles such as optimization
and the thermodynamic laws are evident and interwoven in nature's community
of diverse and cooperative systems. This is evidenced in Benyus's principles of
biomimicry :
Nature runs on sunlight.
Nature uses only the energy it needs.
Nature fits form to function.
Nature recycles everything.
Nature rewards cooperation.
Nature banks on diversity.
Nature demands local expertise.
Nature curbs excesses from within.
Nature taps the power of limits.
Innovations in material science have accelerated over the past few years
with new materials that are built from science and engineering discoveries. As
discussed later in Benyus's text, many innovations in material science draw
inspiration from nature. For example, the study of lotus petals' ability to re-
pel rainwater is now finding applications in “biometic paint” and in surface
treatment for concrete that absorbs pollution from the air. What can the orb-
weaver spider teach today's architects, engineers, and material scientists? The
study of such organisms and a closer look at the chemistry underlying the trans-
formation of flies and crickets into materials that are five times stronger per
ounce than steel at room temperature could lead to a new way of conceiving
and manufacturing materials and assembling them to create more sustainable
environments.
EMERGING TOOLS FOR COLLABORATION, SYNTHESIS, AND
INNOVATION IN DESIGN
New tools are emerging to facilitate creation of whole systems and integrated
approaches through collaboration, synthesis, and innovation in the design process.
In addition to supporting collaboration, new software tools are allowing designers
to develop, digitally prototype, and test on demand, providing freedom to explore
virtual models of alternatives quickly.