The document provides an evaluation of a biomimetic lighting system called Lys for Herman Miller. Lys uses mirrors to reflect natural sunlight into interior spaces, conserving electricity. It was evaluated based on principles of how life adapts, evolves, and creates conditions conducive to life. The evaluator provides recommendations to emphasize locally sourced materials, explore storing light energy, and implement Lys in various settings beyond homes. Extending light tubes from fixtures to furniture is also suggested.

1. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
A9.1b – Evaluation for Deann Garcia
This evaluation is intended to provide additional perspective for
Deann Garcia, as she pursues the development of her biomimetic design
concept that follows.
Client: Herman Miller // Product: Lys Lighting System
Description: A lighting system that connects interior spaces with the
natural light outdoors. This novel system provides Herman Miller with
a sustainable product line addition, and attracts consumers who are
geared toward appreciating the outdoors. Electricity conservation is
another benefit of the product system, as it does not run off of
bulbs, but rather mirrors that reflect the sunlight outdoors in to the
interior space.
Life Adapts and Evolves
1. Locally Attuned and Responsive
a. Is the design resourceful?
 Yes, the design is absolutely resourceful. It is
optimized to reflect readily available natural
sunlight into the home.
b. Does it leverage feedback loops?
 Yes, Lys utilizes feedback loops as external light-
collecting elements always stay pointed at the sun.
c. When it uses materials, are the materials locally available
and abundant?
 Unable to say. There is not much mention of the
materials that will be utilized for the final
assembled finished good.
Design Recommendation:
An emphasis on locally procured raw materials for the
creation of Lys. Also, unconventional approaches could
be explored for product construction. For example,
hollowed branches of local trees could be sealed to
prevent corroding and fitted with the fiber optic and
lens enabling technologies.

2. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
2. Integrate Cyclic Processes
a. Are processes cyclical?
 Yes, the processes are cyclical. Lys transfers light
on 24 hour day/night cycles, day-after-day.
b. Does it integrate local feedback loops?
 Yes, the product integrates local feedback loops, it
changes by time of year, time of day, and geographic
location.
Design Recommendation:
There is some really exciting physics research going
on these days. Perhaps Lys could be a research
platform for Herman Miller to interface with
physicists. In 2013 a team of German researchers
stopped and stored light for 60 seconds. Here’s the
link: http://phys.org/news/2013-07-seconds.html .
Imagine Lys being able to “store” natural sunlight
during the day, and “release” it inside of the home
during the night.
3. Resilience
a. Can it withstand disturbance while maintaining function?
 No. Not if we consider continuous streams of natural
light to be non-disturbed states. Clouds, weather
patterns, and night “disturb” Lys’ functionality.
b. Does it heal after a disturbance?
 Yes, after disturbances in sunlight have subsided, Lys
returns immediately to its functional state.
c. Are there opportunities for cross-pollination and mutation?
 Yes, absolutely! The modularity of the Lys lighting
system allows it to “mutate” and grow according to the
constructs of the end-user’s space.
Design Recommendation:
Explore opportunities for cross-pollination by
extending tubes or branches from the core chandelier
downward to desks, or other furniture. Herman Miller
can begin to create furniture that is Lys-ready – with
tubes or tube ports that connect to the main lighting
system.

3. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
Life Creates Conditions that are Conducive to Life
1. Optimize Rather than Maximize
a. Does it integrate multiple functions?
 Yes, Lys integrates multiple functions in capturing,
directing, and delivering light. Following light. In
addition to simply illuminating
b. Does it recycle all materials? Is it recyclable?
 Unsure. There is no mention of recycled materials.
c. Does it perform functions with minimal material and energy?
 Yes, absolutely. Lys operates with “free” energy – the
sunlight that bathes the earth every day.
Design Recommendation:
Emphasize the use of recycled and recyclable materials
in the Lys manufacturing story. Design for disassembly
will also be a valuable sustainability addition.
2. Use Benign Manufacturing
a. Is it made from life-friendly materials?
 Unsure, there is no mention of materials used in the
manufacturing process, aside from lenses and mirrors.
b. Is chemistry done in water?
 Unknown. The document does not indicate whether or not
the glassmaking chemistry is partially done in water.
c. Are processes done at ambient (local) pressures and
temperatures?
 Unknown. The document does not indicate much about the
materials and processes associated with the
manufacturing of Lys.
Design Recommendation:
Explore methods of manufacturing and materials and
processes for Lys that require low energy loads to
form. Also incorporate processes that can be done at
ambient temperature and pressure – such as dovetailing
wood modules. (I can imagine the chandelier being
wooden modular cylinders).

4. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
3. Leverage its Interdependence in the System
a. Does it foster symbiotic, cooperative, community-based
relationships?
 It’s possible that it could through helping people
connect with an uplifting feeling associated with
vitamin D from the sunlight.
b. Does it foster emergent relationships?
 Yes. If Lys were to be implemented in schools,
offices, and stores, new feelings of fulfillment,
gratification, and engagement could emerge at a large
scale, leading to the emergence of new or healed
relationships.
Design Recommendation:
Encourage the implementation of Lys systems not only
in homes, but also in retail, work, school, and
industrial settings.
Conclusion
This project is in alignment with a good number of life’s principles.
It would behoove Herman Miller to heed the recommendations put forth
by Deann to widen their luminary product offerings to include. The
Herman Miller brand is already well positioned for deepening their
sustainability efforts and stories – this product development exercise
would be of great value to the company.
One thing I might recommend exploring further is positioning Lys as a
research platform – incorporating the engagement of physicists to
pursue the current cutting edge successes in “storing” light. If
Herman Miller pioneered product development in this area through Lys –
it would be undeniably disruptive, not only in the area of interior
luminaries, but also in other industries and sectors.
On the following page I call out a few additions that could be added
to Deann’s proposed Lys design.

5. John Longchamps
Denise DeLuca
Biomimetic Design
MCAD | Summer 2015
 Light tubes could be extended from the chandelier core on the
ceiling, down toward objects and furniture on the ground. For
example, these light tubes would extend from the chandelier core
across the ceiling, down the wall, and onto / into a desk.
 Herman Miller could even conceptualize, and eventually produce a
line of Lys-ready furniture that accepted peripheral extensions
from the Lys core.