--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jay Harman is the quintessential…" description: "\"Jay Harman is the quintessential biomimic, a principled inventor who sees solutions everywhere he looks in the natural world. And he looks deeply, with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/janine-benyus-15049_biomimicry_jay-harman-is-the-quintessential-biomimi_1902135.jpg" --- # Jay Harman is the quintessential biomimic, a principled… ![“Jay Harman is the quintessential biomimic, a principled inventor who sees solutions everywhere he looks in the natural world. And he looks deeply, with the soul of a student. He moves with grace from a world of waving sea kelp to the world of sustainable design, bringing nature's wisdom into the…” quote by Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/janine-benyus-15049_biomimicry_jay-harman-is-the-quintessential-biomimi_1902135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/janine-benyus-15049_biomimicry_jay-harman-is-the-quintessential-biomimi_1902135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/janine-benyus-15049_biomimicry_jay-harman-is-the-quintessential-biomimi_1902135.jpg) > “Jay Harman is the quintessential biomimic, a principled inventor who sees solutions everywhere he looks in the natural world. And he looks deeply, with the soul of a student. He moves with grace from a world of waving sea kelp to the world of sustainable design, bringing nature's wisdom into the board rooms of global companies, to the design tables of the engineers and designers who make our world. This is more than a business book, more than a memoir, more than a new way to solve global challenges. It's a book about a new way to think.” [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote celebrates Jay Harman as a biomimicry pioneer who translates natural wisdom into sustainable design. **In simple terms:** Harman uses nature to inspire design and solve problems. Key Takeaway Embrace biomimicry for innovation. Themes sustainability innovation design Mood inspirational optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - product development - architecture - engineering - policy making Key Concepts biomimicry systems thinking creative problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can natural principles be integrated with technology? - What limits exist for biomimicry? A Different Perspective Relying solely on nature may overlook technical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Natural world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Our world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-world/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Biomimicry is basically taking a design challenge and then finding an ecosystem that's already solved that challenge, and literally trying to emulate what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-basically-taking-a-design-challenge-and-then-finding-an/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Biomimicry is … the conscious emulation of life’s genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-the-conscious-emulation-of-life-s-genius/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [For businesses, biomimicry is about bringing a new discipline - biology - to the design table. It's not to write an environmental impact statement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/for-businesses-biomimicry-is-about-bringing-a-new-discipline-biology/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature. In a society accustomed to dominating or 'improving' nature, this respectful imitation is a radically new approach, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-innovation-inspired-by-nature-in-a-society-accustomed/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Everyone is trying to jump on the biomimic bandwagon. But a cork floor is not biomimicry. Neither is using bacteria to clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/everyone-is-trying-to-jump-on-the-biomimic-bandwagon-but-a-cork-floor/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [There are three types of biomimicry - one is copying form and shape, another is copying a process, like photosynthesis in a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/there-are-three-types-of-biomimicry-one-is-copying-form-and-shape/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-more-our-world-functions-like-the-natural-world-the-more-likely/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Hunts Point Revival's reuse of the existing structure as part of the new development was conceptually bold and challenging. Overall, the project contained a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mazria/hunts-point-revival-s-reuse-of-the-existing-structure-as-part-of-the/) Edward Mazria > [We can be inspired by and renew our ancient culture of sustainable design and living. Why not set standards for producers and importers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/we-can-be-inspired-by-and-renew-our-ancient-culture-of-sustainable/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [I think ultimately, bringing more nature back into the city is a way to deal with urban sprawl and things like that. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-gossard/i-think-ultimately-bringing-more-nature-back-into-the-city-is-a-way/) [Stone Gossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-gossard/) > [Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/bringing-nature-into-the-classroom-can-kindle-a-fascination-and/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [By bringing nature into our lives, we invite humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/by-bringing-nature-into-our-lives-we-invite-humility/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [At this point in our global ecological crisis, the survival of humanity will require a fundamental shift in our attitude toward nature: from finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/at-this-point-in-our-global-ecological-crisis-the-survival-of/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [When I look at pictures when I was younger, I do the quintessential cringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/when-i-look-at-pictures-when-i-was-younger-i-do-the-quintessential/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More by Janine Benyus > [A solitary American monk named Thomas Berry writes that in our relationship to nature, we have been autistic for centuries. Wrapped tightly in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/a-solitary-american-monk-named-thomas-berry-writes-that-in-our/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [The answers to our questions are everywhere; we just need to change the lens with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-answers-to-our-questions-are-everywhere-we-just-need-to-change/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-more-our-world-functions-like-the-natural-world-the-more-likely/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [In reality, we haven't escaped the gravity of life at all. We are still beholden to ecological laws, the same as any other life-form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/in-reality-we-haven-t-escaped-the-gravity-of-life-at-all-we-are-still/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Organisms don't think of CO2 as a poison. Plants and organisms that make shells, coral, think of it as a building block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/organisms-don-t-think-of-co2-as-a-poison-plants-and-organisms-that/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Water is at the center of every chemical reaction, and therefore should be the earth's most precious gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/water-is-at-the-center-of-every-chemical-reaction-and-therefore/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [After decades of faithful study, ecologists have begun to fathom hidden likenesses among many interwoven systems. ...a canon of nature's laws, strategies, and principles...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/after-decades-of-faithful-study-ecologists-have-begun-to-fathom/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [The answers to how to live sustainably on our planet are all around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-answers-to-how-to-live-sustainably-on-our-planet-are-all-around-us/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Green chemistry is replacing our industrial chemistry with nature's recipe book. It's not easy, because life uses only a subset of the elements in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/green-chemistry-is-replacing-our-industrial-chemistry-with-nature-s/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Per capita, I would say that Australia has more biomimetic projects going than many other countries I've been to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/per-capita-i-would-say-that-australia-has-more-biomimetic-projects/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Biological knowledge is doubling every five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biological-knowledge-is-doubling-every-five-years/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Nature works with five polymers. Only five polymers. In the natural world, life builds from the bottom up, and it builds in resilience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/nature-works-with-five-polymers-only-five-polymers-in-the-natural/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Trees and bones are constantly reforming themselves along lines of stress. This algorithm has been put into a software program that's now being used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/trees-and-bones-are-constantly-reforming-themselves-along-lines-of/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [There are three types of biomimicry - one is copying form and shape, another is copying a process, like photosynthesis in a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/there-are-three-types-of-biomimicry-one-is-copying-form-and-shape/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Organisms sip energy, because they have to work or barter for every single bit that they get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/organisms-sip-energy-because-they-have-to-work-or-barter-for-every/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) [Explore all 44 Janine Benyus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) ## More Biomimicry quotes > [The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-more-our-world-functions-like-the-natural-world-the-more-likely/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [There are three types of biomimicry - one is copying form and shape, another is copying a process, like photosynthesis in a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/there-are-three-types-of-biomimicry-one-is-copying-form-and-shape/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Everyone is trying to jump on the biomimic bandwagon. But a cork floor is not biomimicry. Neither is using bacteria to clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/everyone-is-trying-to-jump-on-the-biomimic-bandwagon-but-a-cork-floor/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature. In a society accustomed to dominating or 'improving' nature, this respectful imitation is a radically new approach, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-innovation-inspired-by-nature-in-a-society-accustomed/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [For businesses, biomimicry is about bringing a new discipline - biology - to the design table. It's not to write an environmental impact statement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/for-businesses-biomimicry-is-about-bringing-a-new-discipline-biology/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [At this point in our global ecological crisis, the survival of humanity will require a fundamental shift in our attitude toward nature: from finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/at-this-point-in-our-global-ecological-crisis-the-survival-of/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [Biomimicry is … the conscious emulation of life’s genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-the-conscious-emulation-of-life-s-genius/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Biomimicry is basically taking a design challenge and then finding an ecosystem that's already solved that challenge, and literally trying to emulate what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biomimicry-is-basically-taking-a-design-challenge-and-then-finding-an/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) Browse all 9 Biomimicry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jay Harman is the quintessential biomimic, a principled inventor who sees solutions everywhere he looks in the natural world. 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