Spring Semester 2009

A small and well-known outdoor gear manufacturer, Pacific Outdoor Equipment (POE), sponsored a real-life design challenge: to use biomimicry tools and principles to design a specialized backpacking tent. The Biomimicry Institute created the interdisciplinary and collaborative design team of university students and faculty and facilitated the design process throughout the semester-long project, from idea to prototype. The product is currently sold by POE (see images below).

Read a paper written by Marjan Eggermont (University of Calgary, professor) about The Biomimicry Institute's 2009 Student Design Challenge sponsored by POE. 

Peruse a presentation created by Marjan Eggermont (University of Calgary, professor) about The Biomimicry Institute's 2009 Student Design Challenge sponsored by POE.

See more product pages from the 2009 POE catalogue.

Spring Semester 2010

The Biomimicry Institute's next Student Design Challenge will take place in spring semester of 2010. This design challenge will be sponsored once again by Pacific Outdoor Equipment (POE) and supported with 3D renderings by Pika Designs.

Keep visiting this site to track the evolution of our 2010 design challenge!