Patterns in nature are telling us more than what we see…
Nature has a fascinating way of arranging itself. You can see the patterns in nature if you pay attention. What is outside of us is also inside of us..
Patterns are an outward manifestation of an ordered structure and are clues as to how things are organised and connected.
A kaleidoscope of visual patterns surrounds us everyday. From ❄️ snowflakes, 🌲 trees branching, ⚡️ lightning, and 🌿 ferns (fractals), to pine cones, 🍍 pineapples, 🌪hurricanes (spirals), to patterns on 🦒 a giraffe, 🌽 corn on the cob, 🐝🍯 honeycombs, 🌫foam bubbles, 🍃 leaf cells, and 🧄 a head of garlic (Voronoi) patterns form part of a complex web of interrelationships.
Our visual system is in some way hardwired to understand fractals. “The stress-reduction is triggered by a physiological resonance that occurs when the fractal structure of the eye matches that of the fractal image being viewed.” When an environment veers away from natural patterns, it leads to some discomfort, even if subconsciously.
A fractal pattern looks the same close up as it does far away.
Incorporating fractals into our built environments can even reduce stress by up to 60 percent.
Nature has shown us some outstanding structurally sound designs, while also being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
For example, bees seem to possess specialised abilities to measure angles and wall thickness with instincts for making wax chambers, with the advantage of requiring less energy and time than those with other shapes.
So it makes sense to incorporate these proven designs from nature into our everyday environment.
Structures in nature is a strategy for design
In a study, researchers experimented with graphene. With conclusions that it’s extraordinary properties are likely to be due to the sponge-like structure rather than because of the graphene itself.
“You could either use the real graphene material or use the geometry we discovered with other materials, like polymers or metals,” … “You can replace the material itself with anything. The geometry is the dominant factor. It’s something that has the potential to transfer to many things.”
If you can imagine it, you can build it!
For the first time in human history, with Additive Manufacturing (3D printing), we can build objects that approach the complexity of Nature — if we find a new way to design them, using AI and computer algorithms.
Hyperganic, is a company that will help enable the innovation of global supply chains, by helping innovate the design process in manufacturing, referencing designs from nature …
Manufacturing products at the end user point is not a new concept, just like the ‘replicator’ from StarTrek.
Science fiction, brings imagination to reality with 3D printers (additive manufacturing)
These technologies will ultimately disrupt the current global manufacturing value chains, with the industry size forecast to reach over $200 billion by 2030.
The additive manufacturing disruption will traverse across all industries, as we will no longer need to trade parts and components across multiple boarders, multiple times.
Current disruptions to global supply chains will force companies and governments to rethink how we trade goods and services
As 3D printing becomes the new normal, there will be a reshaping if global trade and investment flows
- The value of goods are likely decline, making it more affordable for purchase at the user end
- The structure of trade will change, trading parts and components will no longer need to cross multiple boarders. You will pay for the materials you use, which will see an increase in trade of raw materials, reduction in intermediaries and labour for basic assembly, and increase in trade of digital designs
- We will need to rethink trade policy at global levels, current tariffs will no longer make sense to the changing landscape
- Increase focus on IP laws and cybersecurity to prevent IP theft
- The reduction of unnecessary movement of goods between intermediaries will see a decline in Co2 emissions
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