The work presented in this dissertation was aimed at understanding biology's application of soft materials to enhance sensing abilities and initiate innovative bio-inspired material-based approaches for flow (fluidic and air) sensors and photo-thermal sensors. A key aim is to help strengthen this niche of functional materials science referred to, here, as bio-inspired materials in sensing roles. The work aspires to traverse the boundaries of the subject in order to provide a strong foundation for future scientific explorations of the subject. The studies presented here, include studies of flow sensing in fish and implementing a bio-mimetic approach to microfabricated flow sensors. The work also includes studies of material based signal filtering in spiders, as well as, bio-inspired photo-thermal transduction mechanisms. The capabilities of the methodology are demonstrated with successful engineering studies.