All the design process of BID card was undertaking after gathered insight form research.
This chapter shows the development of classification of biological knowledge and the prototype development of the BID card.
Three features are provided for the designer to explore the biological solution which are showing below.
Biologically inspired design (BID) is not only defined as a synonym for biomimetic but also a design process. Biological knowledge has an unpredictable potential for designers to seek creative solution and solve design problems. The aim of BID method is not only to extract innovative intelligent from biological prototype but also to combine these knowledge into diverse technological domains to create a new product or a new system.
The six-step bio-inspiration strategy divided nature solution into seven sections and it is the primary reference of classification for the BID card. According to the interview form three designers, appearance, material, shape and structure are the most attractive elements. Thus, to formulate an appropriate corpus the six-step bio-inspiration strategy is valuable for developing the BID card.
User can explore nature solution form the front page and get the primary idea from it. The back of card indicates the three classifications which are structure, material and energy management. The function is shown by verb because it is easier for inspiration according to the result form questionnaire.
The life principle, function and idea generation are designed as simple as possible to reduce the knowledge barrier which has been simplified. To guide the user, the idea of icon has been introduced which was based on the principle of visual inspiration. This feature was tested by the workshop to validate the hypothesis for usefulness of icon.
Another feature is QR code which is suggested by the questionnaire and it is an essential for providing further information for deeper biological knowledge.
There are various terminologies which is interchangeable in the different area, but each term has their own meaning and definition. Thus, select the right terminology and develop the concept form the right path is priority for idea generation.
The terminology –biomimicry is selected to be the main direction in this project which not only introduce the biological solution but also include the concept of sustainability.
Biomimicry introduce the concept of sustainability and life principle. 3 levels of the terminology (Ecosystem level, Behavioural level and Organ and tissue level).
Structure of biomimicry is interacted by each other which is easier to understand and good for inspiration.
The BID card ranks the 3 levels for each solution. Design can follow the number 1,2,3 to select the solution related to higher sustainable level.
- Level 1 is organ and tissue level which imitate the shape or appearance but not including sustainable solution.
- Level 2 introduces nature behaviour which refer deeper level about life principle. In the BID card, most of the biological solution are included in this level.
- Level 3, the natural solution not only contribute functions but also sustainability. This level is including in the section of energy management more than structure and material. The further detail is described in section of the BID card.
Self-clean / Self- Repair / Maintain / Protect
The section of material enable designer to discover a material which has ability to enhance a surface for a product. These four features are collected in the section of material which is aiming for protect form water, solid, dirt and other substance. For example, the ability of self-cleaning can be found from sacred lotus. The hydrophobic leaves can reduce contact time with water drops because its life principle. Besides, the function of anti- fouling was found on the white rock shell. The shedding of the outer layer and have ability to protect form physical, mechanical and chemical defence.
Absorb / protect / transform / reinforce / support
The section of Structure enable designer to discover a structure which has ability to enhance the strength to increase the quality of a product.
For example, the structure of wind resistance can be found on the leaf form plants.
Because the lead is flexible which provides structural features to resist bending and support from below.
The structure of leaf requires less and fewer material and good at deal with environmental conditions.
Another example is the seed coat of sacred lotus, the coat of lotus is hard which is built to prevent water and air from entering and degrading the seed.
It provides the structure of preservative alternative, waterproofing, antifungal compounds. The ability of compression resistance can be found from the stems of the plants. It can resist bucking by using low-density form cores which have ability to reduce susceptibility. Further and detailed biological solution is shown in the version level 3 BID card.
It provides the structure of preservative alternative, waterproofing, antifungal compounds. The ability of compression resistance can be found from the stems of the plants. It can resist bucking by using low-density form cores which have ability to reduce susceptibility. Further and detailed biological solution is shown in the version level 3 BID card.
Reduce / Save / Capture / Harvest
This section indicates the life principles related to energy management form nature species. For example, the water is captured by the tree from cloud. In tropical forest the trees need deal with the dry season which lead insufficient water from the ground to satisfy the need of trees. Thus, leaves use their surface to absorb water from cloud or fog.
The function of water collection can inspire designer to generation for urban building design.
The sunlight is harvested form oriental hornet. Hornet tend to work in direct sunlight because the surface of them allow them to absorb sunlight by multiple layers. Besides, oval-shaped bumps can increase effectiveness for sunlight absorption on the outer yellow layer. The successive thinner pigments have ability to absorb the solar energy and transfer heat to other locations. Further and detailed biological solution is shown in the version level 3 BID card.
As the beginning of the research, the view was exploring the value of the BID tool for the designer. Generally, the qualitative research method was conducted for analysing the biological solutions and methods in this project. The figure has indicated the relationship between the objectives and the finding related to each research process.
To understand the needs of biologically design method (BID), life principle and biological solution and designer’s difficulties were obtained from the literature review.
The biological design is comprehensive and consist two main methods (solution-driven BID and problem- driven BID).
To get primary understanding of BID is the first step to reflect the finding on practical BID design tool.
Interviews is started based on the study1 to explore more questions about designer needs and requirement for BID.
The part 1 is identifying the main classification form wealth of nature database and formulation of hypotheses.Hypotheses were evaluated by the practical value of BID card.
The first findings form the hypotheses testing is the biological knowledge was not thoroughly considered by the designer because the existing barriers (HYP 1). Secondly, the existing BID tools are not useful enough for design to develop a concept (HYP 3). In the other wards, the BID tool are huge opportunities to improved and release easier and more effective BID tool.
It is important to note that the potential of BID tool has huge potential to encourage designers to generate the concept by using biological solution.
Thus, the biologically inspired card (BID card) was formulated based on literature review and interview survey.
Besides, the biological database form “Asknature” is also considered to develop the BID card.
The BID card was evaluated by questionnaire and the BID workshop. The result of questionnaire shows the high rate for the BID card by respondents. The result of design workshop indicates the significant improvement form participants who were generating ideas by applying the BID tools. However, the result of these researches still implies several problems which need optimisation in the future.