Design Studio II: video

Can sustainability be applied to any design work, whether it’s jewelry or architecture? What exactly does it mean to take a sustainable approach to design? This program examines the art of conceiving and creating physical products according to ecologically sound principles. Viewers learn the importance of, and the basic working framework for, design work that utilizes renewable resources, makes the most efficient use of energy and materials, and minimizes waste and environmental impact. Examples from the industries of architecture, fashion design, and graphic design are provided. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (26 minutes)

TEDTalks: Janine Benyus—Biomimicry in Action (18:00)

Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: when solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you'll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered, and more. In this TEDTalk, the science writer, innovation consultant, and conservationist reveals dozens of new products that take their cue from nature, with spectacular results. “The sophisticated, almost pro-growth angle of Benyus shows the great potential profitability of copying some of nature’s time-tested, nonpolluting, room-temperature manufacturing and computing technologies,” says the New York Times.