Course 5.3. Toward Sustainability: Introduction to Nature-Based Innovation Practice

In this practice-oriented course, participants experience the steps through The Double Diamond innovation process, in form of a nature-inspired analogy-based process. Both Biomimicry approaches will be introduced: Biology to Design, and Design Challenge to Biology. In particular, participants will practice the 4 stages of Biomimicry Thinking: scoping (defining function the innovation should fulfill in the end), discovering (nature-based scientific research searching for models in nature), creating concepts and prototyping, and evaluating the proposed innovation against the sustainability benchmark of the 26 Biomimicry Life Principles. Research steps include deep scientific research into general and subject-specific sub-categories of biology and/or ecology in order to discover the strategies nature uses for surviving and thriving. Systemic sustainability is guaranteed in this innovation process through the sustainability mandate that is built into the design process. In subsequent courses (5.4 and 5.5) participants have a chance to bring their innovation to market and develop a business opportunity for their innovation.