Designers are now looking to nature to create materials that return to the earth safely. Mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, is being used to replace Styrofoam packaging. It grows in days, can be molded into any shape, and is fully compostable. Spiders have provided the blueprint for synthetic silks that are tougher than Kevlar yet biodegradable. Even the way we compute is changing; researchers are exploring "memristors" that mimic the synapses of the human brain, potentially leading to computers that process information with the energy efficiency of a biological brain.
Planting a row of ornamental cherry trees that provide no food for native insects is not nature by design; it is decoration. True nature by design prioritizes function over ornamentation, though the two are not mutually exclusive. nature by design
But the biggest obstacle is conceptual. We have been trained to see humans and nature as separate. "Nature by Design" scares purists who think any human touch is a taint. It scares industrialists who think any nature is an inefficiency. Designers are now looking to nature to create
These don't just insulate buildings; they capture carbon, manage stormwater, and provide habitats for local pollinators. Spiders have provided the blueprint for synthetic silks
While rewilding—allowing land to return to a wild state—is valuable, Nature by Design accepts that humans are here to stay. We design our farms, our drainage ditches, our playgrounds, and our rooftops. The question is not if we design them, but how .
Similarly, the study of sharkskin has transformed medical design. Sharks move efficiently through water, and their skin is resistant to bacteria and algae buildup. Under a microscope, sharkskin reveals a diamond-shaped pattern of tiny ridges called denticles. This pattern makes it difficult for bacteria to gain a foothold. A company called Sharklet Technologies has applied this pattern to hospital surfaces and medical devices. By mimicking the texture of sharkskin, they created surfaces that inhibit bacterial growth without using antibiotics—crucial in the fight against antibiotic-resistant "superbugs."
Economists call this "natural capital." When we design with nature, we stop extracting from our capital and start living off the interest.