Bio-related Design Genres: A Survey on Familiarity and Potential Applications

Abstract

Biophilia, biophilic design, bio-inspired and bio-design are design genres that adopted nature and biological elements as part of design processes. With the spread use of natural elements in design nowadays, from the analogical approach to the application of the biological materials in design brought up a different connotation towards the diverse use of nature in everyday life. This paper discusses the background knowledge of Biophilia, biophilic design, bio-inspired and bio-design and the application of biological materials in urban environments, especially for home. As part of a larger project on the application of biological materials in everyday products, this study investigates the emotional design and perception, while identifying the purposes of biological materials which incorporated into designs or systems. Data from 158 potential consumers were collected in an online survey specifically designed for this study, differentiating between design and non-design participants. Interesting findings are that more than 65% of non-design respondents are not aware of the terms biophilia and biophilic design, but they are familiar with the terms bio-inspired and bio-design. On the other hand, the potential consumers which are from non-design and design background as well agreed that having biological materials indoors, can a) help to release stress, b) create awareness of nature and ecological impact, c) can foster a sense of care, and d) can be educational.