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_botw_iconRichard Feynman: Physics is fun to imagine

Richard Feynman: Physics is fun to imagine

65:55 Posted: Mar 2010

Views: 434,479 | Comments: 134

Play_iconTom Shannon: The painter and the pendulum

Tom Shannon: The painter and the pendulum

13:21 Posted: Feb 2010

Views: 225,320 | Comments: 27

Play_botw_iconRobert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans

Robert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans

37:26 Posted: Jan 2010

Views: 505,800 | Comments: 194

Play_iconNick Veasey: Exposing the invisible

Nick Veasey: Exposing the invisible

13:18 Posted: Jan 2010

Views: 354,743 | Comments: 50

Play_iconCharles Anderson discovers dragonflies that cross oceans

Charles Anderson discovers dragonflies that cross oceans

16:38 Posted: Dec 2009

Views: 259,733 | Comments: 52

Play_iconMagnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture

Magnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture

11:43 Posted: Nov 2009

Views: 370,786 | Comments: 135

Play_iconMathieu Lehanneur demos science-inspired design

Mathieu Lehanneur demos science-inspired design

18:04 Posted: Nov 2009

Views: 284,923 | Comments: 48

Play_iconMarcus du Sautoy: Symmetry, reality's riddle

Marcus du Sautoy: Symmetry, reality's riddle

18:19 Posted: Oct 2009

Views: 348,204 | Comments: 64

Play_iconRachel Armstrong: Architecture that repairs itself?

Rachel Armstrong: Architecture that repairs itself?

07:32 Posted: Oct 2009

Views: 542,299 | Comments: 138

Play_iconEric Sanderson pictures New York -- before the City

Eric Sanderson pictures New York -- before the City

16:09 Posted: Oct 2009

Views: 380,846 | Comments: 40

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