Abstract

Form generation in industrial design is a complex cognitive process, as it necessitates the designer to employ high attentional resources and address diverse requirements simultaneously; however, analog form-finding techniques, rarely applied in industrial design, can make it easier. Therefore, we developed and validated a toolbox of forty analog form-finding techniques to contribute to the analog generation of bioinspired forms in the design process. We conceptually, mathematically, and empirically characterized these techniques and assessed their application, presenting their physical–mathematical models and an assessment of their creative efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of application. The toolbox allows designers to choose a tool according to conceptual, mathematical, bioinspired, and project criteria, to employ it as a stimuli generation creative tool favoring the search for new forms, and to understand the physical processes involved. The toolbox fosters innovation by supporting the development of bioinspired forms that leverage physical phenomena for the optimization of resources, both in the design process and in design products.