Themes Inspired by Nature

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Who can fail to marvel at the shape of a leaf, the sleek power of a cheetah, the dance of two bodies connecting? These speakers celebrate and take inspiration from the natural world -- in the design of a new chair or in a vision for living lightly upon the Earth.

Janine Benyus talks about biomimicry, the practice of copying nature's own engineers, while designers Ross Lovegrove and Paul Bennett discuss the practice of solving design problems by reducing them to evolutionary principles. And Alex Steffen from Worldchanging.com shares his bright-green vision for a society in harmony.

For your own shot of inspiration, take a look at the work of photographer Frans Lanting, and his spine-tingling images of natural grace.

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Play_iconReuben Margolin: Sculpting waves in wood and time

Reuben Margolin: Sculpting waves in wood and time

08:58 Posted: May 2012

Views: 160,414 | Comments: 53

Play_iconRegina Dugan: From mach-20 glider to humming bird drone

Regina Dugan: From mach-20 glider to humming bird drone

25:01 Posted: Mar 2012

Views: 414,743 | Comments: 406

Play_iconVijay Kumar: Robots that fly ... and cooperate

Vijay Kumar: Robots that fly ... and cooperate

16:46 Posted: Mar 2012

Views: 1,525,770 | Comments: 256

Play_botw_iconLucianne Walkowicz: Look up for a change

Lucianne Walkowicz: Look up for a change

11:23 Posted: Feb 2012

Views: 197,311 | Comments: 77

Play_botw_iconGarth Lenz: The true cost of oil

Garth Lenz: The true cost of oil

17:32 Posted: Feb 2012

Views: 469,032 | Comments: 565

Play_iconSimon Berrow: How do you save a shark you know nothing about?

Simon Berrow: How do you save a shark you know nothing about?

16:46 Posted: Feb 2012

Views: 201,008 | Comments: 32

Play_iconErik Johansson: Impossible photography

Erik Johansson: Impossible photography

06:21 Posted: Feb 2012

Views: 715,476 | Comments: 84

Play_botw_iconBjarke Ingels: Hedonistic sustainability

Bjarke Ingels: Hedonistic sustainability

22:25 Posted: Jan 2012

Views: 431,776 | Comments: 91

Play_iconCheryl Hayashi: The magnificence of spider silk

Cheryl Hayashi: The magnificence of spider silk

14:28 Posted: Dec 2011

Views: 409,848 | Comments: 106

Play_iconRobin Ince: Science versus wonder?

Robin Ince: Science versus wonder?

08:38 Posted: Nov 2011

Views: 443,880 | Comments: 133

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