The ATraMS Methodological Framework for Assessing Biomimicry Design Failure in Industrial Design Innovation

Abstract

Biomimicry is increasingly recognized as a sustainability-driven approach in industrial design; however, its translation into viable industrial applications remains inconsistent. Many biomimicry concepts fail during development due to limitations in interpreting biological principles and aligning them with technical and production constraints. Despite this, existing research predominantly focuses on successful applications, with limited attention to systematic failure evaluation. This study proposes the ATraMS conceptual framework as a structured methodological tool for assessing failure risks in biomimicry design. Developed through literature review and thematic analysis, the framework integrates four critical dimensions: appreciation, transformation, manufacturability, and scalability. A qualitative evaluation model is applied to seven conceptual design case studies to examine feasibility across these dimensions. The findings identify transformation as the most influential factor affecting design failure, with weak translation of biological principles significantly reducing feasibility regardless of manufacturability or scalability. In contrast, designs demonstrating balanced performance across all dimensions exhibit lower failure risk. While the study is limited by its conceptual and qualitative nature, the ATraMS framework contributes a systematic approach for early-stage evaluation, supporting more rigorous decision-making and improving the reliability of biomimicry industrial design outcomes.