Themes Inspired by Nature

Inspired by Nature

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.

Email to a friend »

Subscribe to RSS feed ยป

Play_iconCamille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice

Camille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice

04:11 Posted: Jun 2011

Views: 439,955 | Comments: 93

Play_iconAaron O'Connell: Making sense of a visible quantum object

Aaron O'Connell: Making sense of a visible quantum object

07:51 Posted: Jun 2011

Views: 681,393 | Comments: 292

Play_iconThomas Heatherwick: Building the Seed Cathedral

Thomas Heatherwick: Building the Seed Cathedral

16:52 Posted: May 2011

Views: 478,964 | Comments: 129

Play_iconFiorenzo Omenetto: Silk, the ancient material of the future

Fiorenzo Omenetto: Silk, the ancient material of the future

09:40 Posted: May 2011

Views: 433,324 | Comments: 87

Play_iconLouie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination

Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination

07:48 Posted: May 2011

Views: 724,376 | Comments: 138

Play_iconAngela Belcher: Using nature to grow batteries

Angela Belcher: Using nature to grow batteries

10:25 Posted: Apr 2011

Views: 439,531 | Comments: 126

Play_iconRob Harmon: How the market can keep streams flowing

Rob Harmon: How the market can keep streams flowing

08:46 Posted: Mar 2011

Views: 284,486 | Comments: 118

Play_iconMichael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture

Michael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture

13:46 Posted: Feb 2011

Views: 1,059,505 | Comments: 207

Play_iconMarcel Dicke: Why not eat insects?

Marcel Dicke: Why not eat insects?

16:34 Posted: Dec 2010

Views: 470,788 | Comments: 257

Play_iconShimon Schocken's rides of hope

Shimon Schocken's rides of hope

15:46 Posted: Nov 2010

Views: 256,450 | Comments: 50

Comment on this Idea

22 total comments

This comment will be attributed to . Not ? Sign Out.

Characters remaining: 2000

progress indicator

This comment will be attributed to . Not ? Sign Out.

Characters remaining: 2000