Integrating Sustainability into Biologically Inspired Design: A Systematic Evaluation Model.

Area of Science:

• Sustainable Design
• Biologically Inspired Product Design (BIPD)
• Industrial Design

Background:

• Biologically inspired product design (BIPD) inherently integrates sustainability by drawing inspiration from nature for efficient resource use.
• Previous BIPD evaluations were subjective, focusing on designers/researchers, failing to meet industry and market demands.
• Existing indicator methods lacked scientific rigor and prioritization, hindering effective BIPD assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate sustainability into a comprehensive BIPD evaluation system.
• To address the limitations of previous subjective and unscientific evaluation methods.
• To develop a systematic model for screening and evaluating BIPD proposals.

Main Methods:

• Incorporated sustainable design principles into the BIPD evaluation framework.
• Considered diverse stakeholder perspectives: sustainable designers, industrial designers, users, and company decision-makers.
• Employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to construct a systematic evaluation index model.

Main Results:

• A complete and systematic evaluation index model for BIPD was constructed.
• The model enables accurate screening and evaluation of design proposals at the conceptual stage.
• The approach effectively minimizes resource waste and optimizes resource allocation.

Conclusions:

• The developed BIPD evaluation model enhances decision-making accuracy, averting production-related resource waste.
• It ensures user requirements are met, promoting the sustainable development of BIPD across its lifecycle.
• This systematic approach optimizes resource allocation and promotes environmentally friendly coexistence.