Unifying Patterns

For the Biomimicry Design challenge one of the assignments was to create a Unifying
Patterns section, so what is Unifying Patterns? Nature in all of its infinite wisdom, and time to
perfect itself, has been broken down into 10 direct patterns that make nature what it is. These ten
patterns are so precise, that no matter what organism, or living system you choose, it will follow
one of, or a lot of these ten patterns. Although the list appears solid, there is always room for
perfection, at this very moment there are growing communities of biomimetics who are working
on percising these patterns. Natures Ten Unifying Patterns are:
1. Nature uses only the energy it needs and relies on freely available
energy.
2. Nature recycles all materials.
3. Nature is resilient to disturbances.
4. Nature optimizes rather than maximizes.
5. Nature rewards cooperation.
6. Nature runs on information.
7. Nature uses chemistry and materials that are safe for living beings.
8. Nature builds using abundant resources, incorporating rare
resources only sparingly.
9. Nature is locally attuned and responsive.
10. Nature uses shape to determine functionality.
For the challenge I was partnered with two other people, Sharon Onggo, and Joshua
Espinoza. I think what made the finding the unifying patterns so easily was the fact that we had
so many biological inspirations. Out of the month or so that we had been working on challenge,
we spent about a week and a half just researching animals that connected to one of our essential
concepts the preservation, and collection of water. After 2 weeks worth of research we were
able to come up with a list of 15 or more inspirations in nature that connected to our topic. Now
15 was a lot we knew that we needed to narrow it down, and we eventually did by finding which
ones were most significant, and which ones were the most necessary to our cause.
The biggest inspirations that our design incorporated were that of the Namb Beetle,
having hydrophobic lining, and the way in which it recycles water through the pump and
container. All of these listed, are prime examples of nature's very own unifying patterns in the
everyday life. After the narrowing down of inspirations we were able to see what was really
necessary to our idea, and we saw how it replicated patterns that nature itself has, what it
imitates, and how it follows nature's unifying patterns.
The first and maybe most important part of our design was our imitation of the Namb
Beetle. The Namb beetle served most importance because it was the actually part that collected
the water through the mist in the air. It's located on the top of the design, and what makes it
follow one of the unifying patterns is simply its shape. The tenth Unifying Pattern is Nature

uses shape to determine functionality and that is exactly why the Namb Beetle and its
impressive shape was chosen. 1 Nature uses shape or form, rather than added material and
energy, to meet functional requirements. Another way to say this is that form follows function.
This allows the organism to accomplish what it needs to do using a minimum of resources.
Forms can be found in the shape of a beetles back and in the multi-layer structure of a tropical
rainforest. If we notice a form in nature, with very rare exceptions theres almost always a
functional reason behind that form. The irony is the fact that they used the example of a beetle
as an example, but it is a great example! Our Namb beetles back, its shape is simple, and one
piece of material, not composed of anything except for one material which forms into a shape
that directly imitates the Namb beetles sleek shape. With it being on top of our design the Namb
Beetle is able to balance on top of the structure without being too heavy, and is angled in such a
way that it is able to collect the water in the air. It uses its own shape as reinforcement rather than
any added on materials to collect the water, and that is exactly why it is an example of nature's
tenth unifying pattern.
As I said earlier there are some things in nature, or in our case parts of our design, that do
not only follow one pattern, but more than one, ours is the Namb Beetle. Not only does its shape
following the tenth pattern but, it also follows the ninth pattern and that is Nature is locally
attuned and responsive. The beatles intended function is to collect mist from the air, and that in
itself is being attuned and responsive. 2 Chances of survival increase when individuals are good
at recognizing local conditions and opportunities and locating and managing available
resources. Although the purpose of not only the Namb Beetle but the whole design is not
necessarily to survive it does meet the other functions. What the beetle does is sense, and
recognize the local conditions. It does this by knowing its environment, and the mist that is in
that environment, and then it begins to collect it. The invention itself is located in an
environment that contains exactly what the design is seeking, and that is water. It manages this
resource by knowing where it is, and when to take action; for example the beetle would collect a
lot, if not most of the water in the morning because that is when the mist is most pronounced. For
this the beetle demonstrates its awareness of the conditions around it, and manages its resources
well by having good timing.
The last Unifying Pattern that our design follows is number two Nature recycles all
materials. The whole intention of our design is to recycle the water from where it starts (the
mist) and eventually put the collected water into good use. There is no one part of our design that
specifically recycles water for every functionality is designed with the intent of recycling water.
From the beetle collecting the water through the mist, to the water being funneled down
hydrophobic lining, to eventually making its way to its final stage which is the water tank, where
1 http://toolbox.biomimicry.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Natures_Patterns.pdf
2 http://toolbox.biomimicry.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Natures_Patterns.pdf

it is soon pumped out and used amongst the farmers who it is intended for. Its a process, and the
materials that we use are all used in good manor, in order to promote the recycling of water.
Our design surpasses most if not all acts of recycling water. Its purpose is to serve water
recycling, and has nothing to worry about. Water today that is being recycled has to go through a
rigorous process only to come to the same resolution we come to faster. Our design is quick
because it has less steps than the rest of recycling programs out there. One process is regular
water drains; after the water makes its way down the drain it goes to a filtering system that
purifies the water. With this newly purified water, it is then distributed to community water,
water brands, etc. With our design we a lot of the steps because the owners of our design has
their water at their own fingertips, in other words it is already their water, no one else's, not water
brands, not community water, their water. Our design is not only making the water accessible,
but ensuring quality. There is no products being added into the water itself, it purely from nature
itself, (no fine print). I think the strongest part of our design is the fact that it provides assurance
to those who would be using it. Personally I think that is a great feeling to know the history of
where something is from, no variables, no surprises, and that is exactly what our design is doing
for them, providing assurance and peace of mind.