The world is poorly designed. But copying nature helps.

In 1989, Japan's Shinkansen Bullet Train faced a significant noise problem: a sonic boom when exiting tunnels. This issue spurred an engineering team, led by birdwatcher Eiji Nakatsu, to redesign the train. Nakatsu drew inspiration from birds like owls for the pantograph to reduce noise, Adelie Penguins for the supporting shaft to lower wind resistance, and most notably, the Kingfisher's beak for the train's nose to mitigate the sonic boom. The redesigned train, launched in 1997, was 10% faster, used 15% less electricity, and met noise limits, showcasing the power of biomimicry.

The design approach used for the bullet train is called biomimicry. Janine Benyus, who coined the term in her 1997 book, argues that designers often overlook nature as a source of innovation. Benyus consults with companies to integrate biomimicry, suggesting inspirations like prairie dog burrows for ventilation, shark skin for anti-bacterial surfaces, and fish schooling patterns for wind turbine arrangements. She advocates for designers to collaborate with biologists to solve problems by mimicking natural solutions rather than solely relying on existing human technologies.

Biomimicry can be applied in three main ways. First, mimicking form, like the self-cleaning properties of lotus leaves, which can inspire paints for buildings and cars that clean themselves with rainwater. Second, mimicking process, such as how ants communicate for efficient food finding, inspiring self-organizing software for autonomous cars. Third, mimicking entire ecosystems, leading to concepts like the 'circular economy,' where waste from one industry becomes input for another, much like how materials are recycled in a forest ecosystem.

The ultimate goal of biomimetic design is to create products, systems, and cities that function as seamlessly and efficiently as the natural world. With 3.8 billion years of research and development, life on Earth offers unparalleled solutions to contemporary design challenges. By observing and learning from nature, designers can create a more sustainable and functional world.