Behind the Scenes: Inspired by Nature

“IT’S HARD NOT TO STAND IN AWE AND ENCHANTMENT WITH THE BEAUTY IN WHICH NATURE EXPRESSES HERSELF.”

Steve Maraboli

The blue of the sky, the deep navy of the ocean, the green of the grass, the orange to yellow to red to pink to purple of the sun as it rises, shines, then sets. From the glittering sharp angles of an amethyst to the soft white sand of a tropical beach. The rage of a hurricane to the soft patter of Spring rain. From the rough texture of tree bark to the smooth velvety leaves of lamb’s-ear. Over 20,000 species of orchids and 90,000 species of bugs, all varying in color, shape, and size. The birth of a robin from a brilliant turquoise egg to the 24-hour lifespan of a mayfly. The iridescent beauty of a peacock’s feathers to the glow of a bioluminescent. From the bold and perfectly placed strips of a tiger to the artistry of butterflies’ wings.

Nature is the oldest and richest source of design inspiration.

Nature is the oldest and richest source of design inspiration. From the prehistoric cave paintings of animals and vegetation in Lascaux, France (estimated to be over 20,000 years old), to the plein air paintings of Romanticism and the curving, organic and natural motifs of Art Nouveau to the Environmental-activist art of today, and far beyond, humans have always been inspired by natural phenomena. Through direct translations, whimsical, innovative or stylized interpretations, whether designing a dress or a chandelier, creating a symphony, or inventing a cure for cancer—nature inspires.

Tangible and a relative constant in our ever-changing lives, from birth, nature is there delighting us and providing endless sources of inspiration. Humans naturally respond to things that move them and so for those who choose to create it is impossible to imagine that nature would do anything but inspire.

From biophilia (a hypothesis that “suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.”) to biomimicry (“the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.”)—as humans we have recognized that nature, thanks to evolution and natural selection, offers up highly efficient ways to solve all sorts of problems. However, while we may have uncovered and dissected some of nature’s magical ways to create things, such as shark-skin inspired swimwear, lotus leaf inspired textiles, and a jellyfish inspired cancer-cell capturing device. With over 391,000 plant species and 8.7 million animal species, there is most certainly a lot of bioinspiration left to discover.

From motifs to materials…nature inspires

It is not only nature’s motifs, forms and functions which inspire, the world also offers up natural materials for creation—pigments, marbles, gemstones, wood, silk, flowers, feathers, animal skins, and so on!

A source of stunning materials, magnanimous power, and endless inspiration, remember to pause, breath in and be thankful for this beautiful world around us. And do your best to preserve it so that it can continue to inspire future generations to come.