Hybridisation between technology and biology in design for sustainability

Abstract

This work illustrates the development of a method for bio-inspired design, based on the integration of inspiration from biology with a sound awareness of the exigencies in terms of sustainability. The objective of this method would be to facilitate the development and partition into tasks of the design process and constitute an univocal and common reference for the integration and collaboration between different competences involved, such as biology, engineering, technology and design: this is one of the main difficulties in the whole process of designing bio-inspired concepts. A number of examples of design concepts which have been created according to this method are exposed, dealing, in particular, with reducing energy consumption, smart packaging and promoting organic food revolution.