JANINE BENYUS & DAYNA BAUMEISTER
Principals, The Biomimicry Guild

by Carlos Montana

The term "biomimicry" was coined and popularised by Janine Benyus in her seminal and influential book Biomimicry, Innovation Inspired by Nature published in 1997. Etymologically, biomimicry has its origin in the Greek words bios (life) and mimesis (imitation). It proposes nature as a source of ideas and innovative solutions for human problems and needs. In only one decade, this concept has grown to a worldwide movement led by Janine Benyus and Dayna Baumeister, through the Biomimicry Institute and the Biomimicry Guild. Biomimicry as a method for design for sustainability has been embraced by many universities and research institutes, as well as many companies involved with design at different scales. Corporate giant Interface (read more about Ray Anderson's personal journey in transforming Interface in the 1Q 2009 edition)—one of the pioneers in green business and industrial practices—collaborated with the Guild and created novel carpet tile designs based on random, organic patterns of forest floors. In September 2008, it was announced that HOK, one of the world's largest architectural design firms, and the Biomimicry Guild have forged a formal partnership to integrate organic solutions inspired by nature into sustainable design and building practices.

In 2007, Carlos Montana attended a biomimicry and design workshop in Costa Rica where he caught up with the two founders.

To read the complete interview, get a copy of the 1Q 2009 edition at newsstands or major bookstores, or subscribe to FuturArc.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America, Carlos graduated as an industrial designer in 1997 from Javeriana University. In 2003 he was awarded a scholarship from the Japanese government. He obtained a MAID from Kobe Design University in 2006 and is currently pursuing his PhD. As a designer, Carlos has worked in several industries in Colombia and Italy. In 2007 his "a la lata" chair was selected among the top five chairs made with recycled materials within the EcoDesign exhibition of the New York Furniture Fair. Other awards include the 2004 DuPont Imagineering Design Award and an honourable mention in Braun Prize 2005. Carlos was also recognised as one of the most influential young designers in his country in 2006. Presently, he develops his own projects, works as a design consultant and writes freelance for diverse design related media. He is also a Visiting Fellow in the Industrial Design programme, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore. His current research focuses on application of biomimicry for design for sustainability.

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