A4.1b Biology to Design

A4.1a / B2D Session

John Longchamps | Biomimetic Design | MCAD | Summer 2015

B2D Phase 1: Discover

Buds form in the spring Buds begin to flower Flowers are pollinated Flowers die post-pollination

Fruit begins to form Fruit continues to grow

Inspiration: Cherry Fruit Growth

Fruit size increases, color changes Fruit ripens and color deepens

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 2: AbstractBuds form in the spring Flowers are pollinated


Fruit ripens and color deepens

Buds form in the spring that willeventually form into flowers that willbe pollinated by bees.

Cherry trees develop flowers to attract the bees, and as such a symbiotic relationship is established.

In the images to the right a bee is shown pollinating a cherry blossom.

SymbiosisAttracting Pollinators Attracting Food-Seekers

The fruit that forms post-pollinationis sweet and is attracts birds, squirrels,opossums, and other animals for consumption.

The sweet flesh of the fruit houses a seedthat is either deposited on the ground asan animal eats around it, or is passed inthe pellets of said animal after digestingthe fruit.

Round 1

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 3: Brainstorm



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Advertisements Exchange of cash + services Positive “word of mouth”

Round 1

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 4: Emulate



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Advertisements Exchange of cash + services Positive “word of mouth”

Round 1

Construct adsacross variousplatforms to attract variouskinds of “pollinators”

Print, radio,digital media,social media,and industry journals willall attract differentpollinators andincreaseexchange of cash + services

Cultivate apositiveexperience with thepollinators,and they willdeposit theseeds of theirexperience withthe brand

Brand Building

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 5: Evaluate


Round 1

There is great latent potential in the world of advertisingto become informed by biomimetic design principles andexercises.

When evaluating advertising techniques and word of mouth promotional efforts against life’s principles, leveraging interdependence, feedback loops, cross-pollination, and redundancy readily apply.

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 2: AbstractBuds form in the spring


The cherry buds that form in the springare testaments to the cherry tree’salignment and attunement with local systems.

The image above shows buds forming in the spring, a direct response from thetree to information from the greater system that surrounds it.

Transformational GrowthSeasonal Adaptation Optimization

Internal chemical processes being that alter the color, texture, and taste of the fruit, to signal to food-seekers that the fruit is ready for consumption.

Round 2

Fruit continues to grow Fruit size increases, color changes

As fruit starts to emerge from the budit is transforming all of the nutrients that arereadily available to create a vessel for seeds.

This transformational growth aids inperpetuating the continuation of the species.

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 3: Brainstorm


Adapting Sales Teams Use Available Resources

Round 2


Alteration of Offerings

Identify sales team members as either hunters or farmers. Position the hunters to “adapt” to environments or “seasons” that require closing deals aggressively,moving from one to another in rapidsuccession. Position the farmers to“adapt” to environments or “seasons”that require long-term relationships tobe cultivated.

Companies can create products that change over time and co-evolve alongsideconsumers, becoming more appealing or“ripe” when certain triggers in the systemare actuated.

Companies can utilize available resourcesin an evolutionary manner. For example, acompany that currently makes a product using certain material streams caninvestigate what else it can make with thosesame material streams to attract new customers.

A4.1a / B2D Session




Round 2

Agile and adaptivesales team positioning will create sustainable salesrelationships. Adaptability relatesto personality typeof prospects and the conditions of the sales relationship.

Extending the utility of existingsupply chain material streamsand internalprocesses to build newproducts will attract newcustomers.

Creating smart products that signal toconsumers when the optimalbuying time is in effect canincrease salesand trust in the brand.

Adapting Sales Teams Use Available Resources


Alteration of Offerings

A4.1a / B2D Session




Round 2

There is great latent potential in the world of productdevelopment and sales to become informed by biomimetic design principles and exercises.

When evaluating advertising techniques and word of mouth promotional efforts against life’s principles, local attunement and responsiveness, and optimization readily apply.

A4.1a / B2D Session


B2D Phase 2: Abstract


At the beginning of the flower’s lifecyclethere is robust rapid growth.

This robust growth brings the flower toits useful functional state.

Mid-Life CycleBeginning of Lifecycle End-of-Life Cycle

At the end of its useful life, the flower shrivels up. Next season the entireprocess will once again begin.

Round 3

At the mid-life point, the flower is in its prime. The flower serves as areproductive center for the tree, and alsoadvertises cooperative relationships.

Buds begin to flower Flowers are pollinated Flowers die post-pollination

A4.1a / B2D Session



Create a product that has an evolutionarylife-cycle such as the flower. A piece offurniture that evolves alongside the end-user applies here. The product starts offas a high chair.


The modules of the evolutionary product are all wood panels that slide and locktogether. These wood panels can be re-purposed at the end of the useful life ofthe product, or become biological nutrientsmuch like the flower petals do.

In the mid-life state, the high chair can be reconfigured into a desk for the young end-user to use throughout elementary school.

Evolutionary Product: High Chair Evolutionary Product: Desk Evolutionary Product: End of Life

B2D Phase 3: Brainstorm Round 3

A4.1a / B2D Session




Evolutionary productconfiguration #1 is ahigh-chair for ages0-4.

Evolutionary product configuration #2 is a study and play desk for ages 5-9.

The modular panels can beeasily disassembledand composted at the product’s end of life.

New wood canbe grown to make moreevolutionary furniture.


Evolutionary Product: High Chair Evolutionary Product: Desk Evolutionary Product: End of Life

Round 3

A4.1a / B2D Session




There is great latent potential in the world of product design to become informed by biomimetic design principles and exercises.

When evaluating the evolutionary furniture concept against life’s principles, simple common building blocks, multi-functional design, recycling all materials, using life-friendly materials, using benign manufacturing, and optimizing rather than maximizing all readily apply.

Round 3