Bio Inspired Design Challenge

Course goals

The aim of the course is to design a bio inspired concept that could become a product or service using the challenge to biology biomimicry design cycle. 

Learning objectives:

• The student is able to define and delimit the problem and, based on this describe the context & formulate design criteria.
• The student is able to use the SDG's to address the underlying sustainability problems
• The student is able to reproduce and select the appropriate design cycle as suggested by the biomimicry institute
• The student is able to perform the different (6) steps of the Challenge to biology design cycle and to produce a concept at TRL level 3
• The student can effectively identify and prioritize multiple biological strategies (Around 40 strategies).
• The student is able to offer a new design concept to an identified problem
• The student can integrate Life's Principles and/or unifying patterns into the design
• The student is able to define future actions (e.g. roadmap) and describe limitations and feasibility of the design.
• The student is able to communicate the problem and the design convincingly to a broad audience
• The student is able to formulate a topic-list for an semi-structured interview and to integrate the findings in the final report.

Eindresultaat

Weging

100

 

Report	45%	-
Pitch	20%
Biological Model	25%
Executive Summary	10%

Content

This course will teach you to design using the biomimicry design method. The course is built up by individual and group work. The course will start with a series of workshops that will get you going in the design process. Gradually during the design process, you will learn to make choices independently as a group based on the progress you make with the design. At the end of a course groups deliver a conceptual design embedded in a report, supported by a video pitch and poster presentation. You learn how to produce a report that informs designers and engineers on how to materialize the biology embedded in the design.
The course will consist of lectures, workshops, group work and an individual assignment

Mandatory for students in Master’s programme: No, but we strongly recommend Bio Inspired Innovation students to participate
Optional for students in other Master’s programmes GSLS: No Competenties

• Semi-structured interview supported by topic list
• Sketching
• Challenge to biology design cycle
• Biological modelling
• Executive summary
• Use of SDG