Week+4

** 30th September 2011 **
 * Week 4 **

** BIOMIMICRY AND DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN PRODUCT DESIGN **

** 1. ** ** Look over examples of Janine Benyus’ biomimetic principles applied to products in the slideshow located at [] ** ** and write a short, one paragraph synopsis for each of your three favourite product designs. **

** Design #1 **

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This piece of Japanese technology integrates the aerodynamic shape of the kingfisher's beak and the serrations on the owl's feathers into the design of their high speed train. The beak shaped nose of the train allows it to cut through the air with lesser resistance, and the train's body controls the air-flow, making the passage through tunnels noiseless. The result is a quiet, more efficient train system. ======

** Design #2 **

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German company Sto has produced self-cleaning paint my mimicking the hydrophobic make up of lotus leaves. Eager to create a viable solution to cleaning that does not require toxic detergents and cleaners, German scientists have studied the structure of the leaves which are designed to repel water, and thereby clean the leaf by natural means. ======

** Design #3 **

** 2. ** ** Read the article 'Using Nature as a Design Guide' at [] about Janine Benyus, creator of the burgeoning "biomimicry" movement. ** ** Write two paragraphs about what interests you most about biomimicry as a business model. **

** 3. ** ** Define the word ‘champions’ according to biomimicry and Janine Benyus. **

** 4. ** ** Write a one paragraph definition of ‘permaculture’. **