A Ted Talk, Design and the Globe

Research is an essential part of a project. One hour of browsing the web can influence a mass of ideas. The community centre we are redesigning, for our Experience within Professional Contexts module, has no contact with its surroundings. Therefore, I want to find out how I can bring the outdoors; inside.

I came across a Ted talk, called 'Biomimicry in Action', by Janine Benyus (above). She explained how nature has the answer to human problems, and we should learn from the environments complex strategies. I am passionate about saving the globe from human destruction and think that conscious design can guide us in a moral direction. Hence, I found Benyus' talk extremely informative. She states that "we are not the first organisms to build" and uses a wasps nest as an example of natural architecture. They create beautiful structures that we should be inspired by but instead we destroy them as wasps are 'pests'. Other living beings form homes using limited materials; they don't harm their surroundings. If we minimised the materials we use, we would reduce waste. We can take notes from nature.

Benyus highlights how non-human organisms have interesting systems that create a blueprint for technologies such as waterproofing, aerodynamics, solar-power and more. If we take inspiration from nature, we work together to find solutions enhancing our connection to the world around us. I will use the principles from biomimicry in my ongoing projects to produce strategies that ensure my designs benefit the globe and don't injure it. Using sustainable materials, recycling and reducing waste, are all examples of how I will approach future projects. The Ted talk concludes with the statement, "hopefully we'll learn to live on this earth, and this home that is ours, but not ours alone." It is a powerful comment and makes me think about the earth and its residents. As our species become more intelligent, we become more selfish. We neglect our home. Instead of thinking about how we can improve the quality of living for all beings, we think about ways of making money. The evidence is climate change, inequality and poverty. We must fix this! I believe design is a superhero in disguise. Designers are creative people who can make a difference.