Design Society - Hoeller

Abstract:

Norbert will give an update on Julian Vincent's initiative to form a Biomimetics Special Interest Group with the Design Society. The goal is to help biomimetics be accepted as a standard component of design practice in business/industry. He will also discussion a project to create a 'business canvas' for biom* (short for biomimicry, bio-inspired design, and biomimetics), treating it as a startup requiring a viable business model and strategy.

Bio:

After an extensive career in Information Technology, most recently as a Consulting Architect and technical program manager in charge of major infrastructure implementations at IBM, Norbert Hoeller founded the design research and consulting practice Sustainable Innovation Network. His primary areas of interest are tools and methods supporting problem-driven, systems-oriented, bio-inspired sustainable design.

Norbert has taught biomimicry and sustainability workshops at OCAD University, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, the Design Exchange, Ryerson University, the Nexus Student Sustainability Group (Auckland, New Zealand), ADMI and the University of Toronto. He is the founder and practice leader of the Bio-Inspired Design Community, a co-editor of the Zygote Quarterly Journal and chair of the Canadian mirror committee for ISO’s Technical Committee #266 on “Biomimetics”.