Overview: Week 1

Hi students,

Welcome to Week 1 of Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology!  

The Plan for Week 1:

  • Develop a context for biomimicry/biomimetic design - What is biomimicry? What isn't biomimicry? [2 hours]
  • Develop a nature observation technique - Naturalist Lens [2 hours]
  • Create a biomimetic design - Foot-Inspired Design [2 hours]

Weekly Course Framework

A typical lesson:

  • Introduction: a brief introduction to the topic, often by video.
  • Readings: key readings on the topic
  • Assignment: an assignment (quiz or mini-assignment) related to the topic with detailed instructions as to how to complete and submit the assignment.

Within a typical week:
Each week you'll find 3 lessons that will follow these main themes:

  1. Biomimicry Basics: Each week we'll investigate at least one key concept and/or tool to build your foundational knowledge of biomimicry and to apply them to design. For your assignment, you may be asked to complete a short, multiple choice quiz.
  2. Observing Nature: Each week you'll be asked to venture into the "School of the Wild" to hone your observation skills and to learn how to glean patterns and principles from nature that may be applied to design. For your assignment, you'll be asked to post an image and a brief explanation of your explorations to the discussion board. Images can be photographs taken in nature or scanned images of sketched materials that you made during your visits into nature. You'll be asked to comment on at least 2 other students' posts.
  3. Biomimic's Design Studio: This is the place where we'll have a lot of fun! You'll be given design tasks to accomplish by applying the tools and concepts you'll learn from the topic of the week. Your design studio work assignments will be submitted to the discussion board. You'll be asked to comment on at least 2 other students' posts.