SolidThinking, a maker of 3-D design software, thinks it has hit on something big by borrowing a page from nature. The latest release of its software has something called a morphogenesis tool, which amounts to a filter designers can use to tweak their projects. The filter stems from research done around algorithms that try to mimic how human bones grow and support weight.
As solidThinking sees it, this technique can lend a fresh, naturalistic look to anything from a watch to a bridge or stadium. And by trying to replicate natural processes via algorithms, solidThinking says it can help designers create objects that make better use of space and materials.
Designers are constantly looking to nature because they can find ideas that have some fundamental level of efficiency and robustness, said Bob Little, the president of solidThinking, based in Troy, Mich. And there seems to be a general hunger for bio-mimicry as inspiration.
According to Mr. Little, solidThinkings parent company, Altair Engineering, has used the bone development algorithms for many years, particularly to help design the internal support structures of things like buildings and planes. Now, solidThinking looks to use the technique from the outside in, adding an unusual aesthetic feel to objects.
Most of solidThinkings business comes from Italian design houses, which have bought its flagship software for producing watch, jewelry, shoe and clothing designs.
This week, the company began touting version 8.0 of its souped up solidThinking Inspired software, which for the first time includes the morphogenesis technology.
