The course is supported with lectures and visual studies drawing examples from nature. The elements of design – line plane, volume, texture, shapes and form are introduced supported with examples from nature. Class discussions with presentation of slides of the works of leading artists, designers and engineers who have drawn inspiration from nature in their work are discussed.

”Design is a form of thinking – a spiritual ordering principle at work.”
- Carl Jung

“Design is the conscious and intuitive effort to impose meaningful order”.
- Victor Papanek

Taking inspiration from nature is a very creative and novel approach to design products. Early caveman made weapons by observing teeth of carnivores; the Chinese invented artificial silk nearly 3000 year ago. In 1488 Leonardo da Vinci designed a flying machine inspired from wings of bats. The Wright brothers in 1903, made the first successful aeroplane inspired by large birds. Velcro invented by George de Mestral in 1948 was inspired by the burrs.

Nature fascinates everyone, apart from scientist and engineers there are industrial designers who take their inspiration from nature. Luigi Colani who is famous for his ‘biodynamic forms’ and Ross Lovegrove known for his ‘organic design’ both seem to draw inspiration for design from nature.