Life's Principles - Design Lessons from Nature

Earth's operating conditions

1. Water-based
   
2. Subject to limits and boundaries
3. In a state of dynamic non-equilibrium

Life creates conditions conducive to life

• Optimizes rather than maximizes
  
  • Multi-functional design
  • Fits form to function
  • Recycles all materials

• Leverages interdependence
  
  • Fosters cooperative relationships
  • Self-organizing

• Benign manufacturing
  
  • Life-friendly materials
  • Water-based chemistry
  • Self-assembly

Life adapts and evolves

• Locally attuned and responsive
  • Resourceful and opportunistic
    
    • Shape rather than material
      
    • Simple, common building blocks
    • Free energy
  • Feedback loops
    
    • Antennae, signal, response
    • Learns and imitates

• Integrates cyclic processes
  
  • Feedback loops
  • Cross-pollination and mutation

• Resilient
  
  • Diverse
  • Decentralized and distributed
  • Redundant