What’s It All About?

Nature, as Maggie Macnab so aptly put it, is always just outside our door—an endless source of inspiration that designers often overlook. This six-session workshop introduces students to natural form studies as a foundational process for ideation.

The workshop is built around a two-tiered methodology:

• Visual Analysis – where students closely examine the visible design elements found in nature—such as shape, symmetry, pattern, texture, form, rhythm, and colour.
• Principle-Based Exploration – where the emphasis shifts to the intelligent systems and behaviours in nature: self-assembly, harmony and hierarchy, biomimicry, aerodynamics, bioluminescence, structural resilience, and transformation of scale.

Rather than simply imitating natural objects, students are encouraged to decode the logic embedded in these forms—to understand how and why nature solves problems in the way it does. These insights are then channelled into the design of a usable product—one that reflects the organic intelligence of its source.

The process involves:

• Structured research and selection of a natural form
• Concept sketches and analytical diagrams
• Poster presentations showcasing findings and ideas
• Hands-on model making using accessible materials
• Final product concept and design articulation

By the end of the workshop, students will have not only created a design solution rooted in nature, but also developed a critical design thinking framework that is both intuitive and systematic.