Explore how nature’s strategies inspire innovative, resilient, and regenerative design. From close observation of the living world to hands-on prototyping, you’ll learn to translate biological wisdom into creative outcomes that benefit both people and planet.
This immersive, hands-on workshop invites participants to explore how nature’s strategies can directly inspire the way we design. Instead of focusing on abstract theory, the course emphasizes practical methods for observing, translating, and applying biological insights to human challenges. Through studio work and field immersion, participants will learn how to design products, systems, and experiences that are not only innovative but also resilient, regenerative, and deeply connected to the natural world.
The course is open to anyone curious about integrating nature-inspired approaches into their creative practice. It’s ideal for those who want to explore sustainable, systems-based ways of designing that move beyond conventional human-centred methods.
Prerequisites
Students might work in design, sustainability, science or engineering, but this course is open to all.
No prior knowledge of biomimicry is required—only curiosity, a willingness to observe, and enthusiasm for design.
How you’ll learn
You’ll begin with immersive observation in natural environments, uncovering strategies shaped over billions of years, then translate these biological insights into creative design concepts with both functional and aesthetic value. Through rapid prototyping and iterative reflection, you’ll refine ideas into tangible solutions while collaborating in interdisciplinary teams to expand perspectives and spark innovation. Finally, you’ll develop storytelling and communication skills to frame and share your designs in ways that reveal their deep connection to nature.
What you’ll learn
What to bring
Rebeca (Re) Mora-Castro.
Biologist, Bio Designer, Photographer and Educator.
Rebeca has a PhD in Science, and her transdisciplinary work examines Biophysics (analysis at nanometric and micrometric scales of surface materials and biological structures), Functional and structural biology (biophysics with emphasis on principles of mechanics, form and function), Bio design (from the lens of biomimicry, local thinking and biomaterials) and Collaboration and dialogue (crossing the human-human dynamics toward interspecies collaboration).
Her work in education, delves into the relationships between humans and nature in the context of socioecological challenges and team science. Over the last few years, her research has also focused on reimagining and contextualising biomimicry within Latin America, aiming at new ways of doing and thinking from and with nature through conscious bio design practices. Her scientific projects make efforts to recognise environmental and sociocultural implications, genetic and biophysical characteristics and dynamics of wasps and bees of Costa Rica.
Her research has been published in prestigious academic journals, secondary literature and international media.
