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.

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.

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).

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.

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.