According to the different fidelity of imitation, we divide morphological bionics into concrete bionics and abstract bionics.
Figurative bionic is a direct imitation and reference of the external characteristics of the imitation object, and it is a design technique with the main goal of pursuing the formal similarity between the design works and the external characteristics of the imitation object. Generally speaking, figuration refers to objective forms such as people, animals, plants, landscapes and still lives. Can be identified and distinguished according to visual experience. Therefore, figurative bionic emphasizes the identification and recognition at a glance, which basically imitates all the main characteristics of the object, making the product form interesting, lively and lovely. This method is mostly used in the design of toys, handicrafts and simple daily necessities.
Abstract bionic is a kind of imitation and reference based on refining and summarizing the inner charm or external image characteristics of the imitation object, emphasizing the similarity of spirit, even the subtle grasp between similarity and dissimilarity.
Abstract bionic form is highly simplified and universal. When studying the form, designers refine and summarize the image characteristics from the perspectives of perception and psychology, and then reproduce the imitation object with the combination of points, lines and planes through the abstract changes of the form. So it is simplified and general in form. The simplicity and universality of this form just meet the requirements of modern industrial products, so it is widely used in modern product design.
The abstract bionic form is full of association and imagination. When the abstract bionic form acts on people, the "psychological" form needs the accumulation of life experience and can only be thought of through association and imagination. Therefore, people's infinite imagination is fully released. At the same time, because people's life experiences are different, the "heart shape" related to personal subjective preferences is not the same, and the feeling of generating morphological vitality is naturally rich and colorful.
The abstract form of the same concrete form has diversity. In the process of abstracting the same figurative form, designers have different forms due to different life experiences, abstract methods and expression techniques, showing rich and diverse characteristics.