Have you ever wondered how bees revolutionised avionics? Or how butterfly wings influence material manufacturing?

Artisan, in partnership with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – Creative Industries, are sharing the answers and much more at the 2009 Live in Queensland Design for the World one day seminar, SuperNature.

QUT will be host to nine internationally acclaimed designers on 17 September who will discuss the influence of nature on their work.

The seminar, aptly named SuperNature, explores the power of lateral thinking, dismissing strict design principles.

From inspiration to completion, the speakers will explain their design processes – with a strong focus on the ways in which the beauty, complexity, and sometimes simplicity, of nature influence design.

SuperNature will cover three topics. ‘Bio Stimuli’ covers the ideas behind design that find their basis in nature.

‘Hybrid Vigour’ takes a look at the crossbreeding of biological principles in order to provide solutions to problems that arise in the areas of architecture, medicin and avionics, just to name a few.

Finally, ‘Mimesis’ explores the influence of nature on contemporary design aesthetics.

Speakers include architect Mike Pearce from Design Inc, Professor Mandyam Veerambudi Srinivasan who specializes in Visual and Sensory Neuroscience and Electrical Engineering, Jon Coe, Founding Principle of Jon Coe Design, Christopher Boutsinis, Director of Mance Design, Sheridan Kennedy, Contemporary Jeweler, Lawrence English, scientist Dr Larry Jordan, mathematician Marty Ross and landscape architect Stephen Perry.

The seminar begins at 10am and finishes off at 5pm and can be found at the Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Theatre, 2 George Street, next to the City Botanic Gardens.

Further information about the dynamic seminar can be found at liveqlddesignworld.com

Hero Image: Mance Design’s Atrium at Federation Square, Melbourne.

Larry Jordan – Beetles