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The sticky hooked spine of the common burr inspired the man who invented Velcro fastener. The "spinning wing" feature of the elm seed served as a model for more efficient windmills and helicopters. Bell invented the telephone by imitating the ear. What patterns and cycles in nature can you use to develop your idea? What can you borrow from the following patterns that would help you in your issue? The phases of the moon ... the seasons of the year ... the creation of compost on the floor of the rain forest ... natural selection ... tides and the moon ... creating hybrid plants ... underground caverns ... the variety of different cloud shapes ... the life cycle of a mountain range ... earthquakes ... the big bang creation of the universe ... the rings of Saturn ... how beavers build dams ... how desert plants are able to live long periods between rainfall ... how a long-nosed anteater rips open a termite mound and scoops up the termites with its sticky tongue. Think of a letter of the alphabet. Now think of an animal (mammal, fish, bird, insect, etc.) that begins with that letter. What two specific tactics would that animal try in dealing with your problem?
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Creative Whack images and text used with the permission of CreativeThink. Copyright © Roger von Oech. All rights reserved.
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