1. From Beaker to Cart:
Translating Nature to Product
Mike Taylor | Principal Researcher
WorkSpace Futures
San Diego Zoo – Bioinspiration Conference
7 November 2013
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
2. Agenda
Chumming the Waters for Innovation
When Having Sharks in the Office is a Good Thing…
The Impending Shark-nado?
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
3. “Steelcase’s formula for success – since
our first use of thin sheet steel nearly
100 years ago – has always been user
insights combined with design and
material innovation.
Then, it was about bending metal.
Now, it’s about bending the future –
anticipating how work, workers and
workspaces will change as material
science accelerates.”
Jim Hackett
CEO, Steelcase
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
4. “To create great experiences,
where ever work happens.”
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
5. Lean Product Development Challenge
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
10. Transition from I/Owned to We/Shared
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
11. How might we improve Well Being through materials
in high diversity, shared spaces while maintaining our
Sustainability goals?
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
18. What about Wear and Tool Life?
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
19. What about Wear and Tool Life?
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
AverageFeatureHeight(µm)
Total Parts Processed(#)
Micro Pattern Feature Depth on Parts and Tools - Scoop Side
Scoop - Parts Scoop - Tooling
98.08%
reduction
s. aureus
96.35%
reduction
s. aureus
Compared with
standard part
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
20. Material Exploration Map
Bulb
Beaker
Basket
Cart
Find Filter UseProve
TechnologyStatus
Organizational Status
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
Sharklet Film
Sharklet Injection
Molding
Cleanwell
Additives
21. “Is this best for my company?”
Technical
Feasibility
User
Desirability
Business
Viability
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
So What?
22. Bioinspiration Accelerators
The ability to image, measure,
analyze, and fabricate at smaller
scale
Ease of cross discipline
collaboration
Additive manufacturing
Data/Algorithms/Complexity
steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
23. steelcase inc | all rights reserved | Bioinspiration Conference | November 2013
