Tag Archives: origami

This electric scooter is made from sheets of steel folded like origami. Watch the video

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Folding sheets of metal might be an easy task for robots, but its benefits to manufacturing and the environment are no small matter.

Personal mobility vehicles have become more trendy in the past years, especially with the introduction of electric scooters and bikes. Traditional fuel engine motorcycles and scooters, however, are still the most dominant types of transportation under this category. While their effects on the environment during use are already well-known, the negative impact that they have during the manufacturing process is less so. One Swedish company is trying to change all that by having a robot that practically folds steel as if it were paper.

Designer: Tue Beijer

The conventional manufacturing process for scooters, both fuel and electric, involve a lot of parts and a lot of wasted materials. The most common structure involves a plastic body that’s attached on top of a tubular metal frame. This doesn’t have to be the case, according to Swedish startup Stilride, and they’re trying to prove their point by launching an electric scooter made from what they call “industrial origami.”

Instead of over a hundred separate parts, the Stilride scooter whittles the number down to about 15. The main body of the scooter comes from just a few sheets of steel that are folded by a robotic arm. There are several benefits to this rather innovative process, starting with the reduction of wasted material. The process also takes up less energy, which means fewer fossil fuels burned during the manufacturing of these scooters.

The robots that fold these sheets of steel don’t have to be custom made either and rely more on software rather than hardware to pull off its artistic stunt. This means that existing factories with robot arms can be reused to make this kind of scooter, which translates to fewer factories crowding and polluting the planet. Stilride is even looking into expanding its technology, which it has named Stilfold” to other manufacturing processes as well.

This origami-like structure also benefits even riders of the e-scooters, at least in theory. With fewer parts, each scooter can be lighter but also be structurally stronger. This theory will be put to the test when Stilride launches its first fleet of electric scooters later this year. Looking to the future, the startup wants to switch to even greener materials, like recycled steel, to help protect the environment while helping more people get from point A to point B.

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This insanely detailed Hayabusa scale-down model is made entirely out of paper

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With a dizzying level of detail all the way down to the cylinders on the engine and even the needles on the speedometer, this tiny Suzuki GAX1300R Hayabusa model shows how versatile and powerful paper is as a material.

If you’re taking out 20 full minutes to watch the video above, be warned, it’s nothing short of sheer madness and devotion. The artist, a Japanese Hobbyist by the moniker of YoshiwoModels, goes into absolute thorough detail, constructing literally every aspect of the superbike just from scraps of paper found in sketchbooks, cardboard boxes, and receipts. If there’s ever been a video that captures true passion and perseverance, it’s this one right here. YoshiwoModels explains his process as he builds out every single part of the Hayabusa, relying on model schematics found online. He talks about his love for the environment and how waste paper can be such a versatile material to work with, while also highlighting his shift to starch-based glues because they aren’t bad for the environment. As he assembles the engine he reflects on how gasoline engines will be obsolete in the future. There’s an inherent respect for the Hayabusa as YoshiwoModels meticulously carves out every single gear and piston from scratch, and the entire video is a phenomenally humbling experience, watching how simple sheets of paper transform into easily the most thoroughly detailed physical model/replica I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Designer: YoshiwoModels

YoshiwoModels’ process is a simple yet painstakingly laborious one. He finds schematics online and meticulously creates plans and outlines of each and every single component, which he then traces onto sheets of paper. For a lightbox, he either uses an illuminated window or relies on the backlight of a computer monitor. The tools YoshiwoModels uses are relatively specialist too… he relies on a hole-punch to create perfect holes in cardboard sheets and uses scalpels and tiny scissors to cut out parts. Assembling the paper scraps isn’t easy too, as Yoshiwo relies on a pair of tweezers to carefully join paper elements together, building first the oil sump, then the engine, the wheels, the chassis, seat, outer body, exhaust, and finally the incredibly tiny elements on the dashboard.

The techniques used by Yoshiwo in this video have their roots Kirigami, a paper-folding style that lets you cut the paper (unlike Origami that only allows you to manipulate paper using folds). In a conscious effort to be as environment-friendly as possible, Yoshiwo doesn’t use any blank or fresh papers in his constructions. For the most part, he relies on boxes and sketchbook covers to create his models and even employs thermal paper found in used receipts, because they can’t be recycled. Once the model is completely ready, Yoshiwo finishes it off by adding the Hayabusa’s kanji logo on the fairing of the superbike.

While the Suzuki Hayabusa is associated with speed and power, this video is the polar opposite, displaying an almost meditative calmness in its slow craftsmanship. Sure, it’s easy to appreciate how beautiful a Hayabusa looks… but when you see every single part of it built and assembled from scratch, it allows you to appreciate the superbike’s design on an entirely different level.

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This modular origami tent built by space architects for the moon unfolds into 750 times it size!

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Studying space exploration is a side hobby of mine so this extreme-weather resistant origami moon habitat is one of my dream homes. SAGA is a Danish architecture studio that designed LUNARK which is a modular shelter that expands and becomes 750 times its original size! It was crucial to design a structure that would be easily transportable (to the moon!), have a zero-waste ecosystem, and could withstand arctic temperatures and meteor showers – LUNARK does it all, in fact, it was taken out on a test run in Greeland by the architects themselves!

SAGA has one mission – make outer space a little cozier for future human inhabitants. The LUNARK habitat shows what can happen when the architect steps back and allows the extreme environment on the Moon and the high arctic to mold a habitat around human beings. LUNARK’s form was inspired by the patterns seen in a budding leaf as it unfolds and origami. It unfolds from a tight bud to a large ovoid shape with a rigid carbon fiber shell. Its exterior is tough as a tank while its interior is a cozy home with a sense of Nordic “hygge”.

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The main exterior of the habitat is made from a black glossy carbon fiber shell. The carbon-fiber structure’s sandwiched panels with a foam core for extra insulation. Carbon fiber is ideal because it’s lightweight – which is crucial for transport and unfolding – yet strong. The panels are connected by a white foldable composite rubber and the main load-bearing structure is an aluminum frame.

Starting from the size of a small car, the carbon fiber shell can unfold to 750 times its size. Inside, solar-powered circadian panels mimic the light cycles on Earth, aiming to improve astronauts’ sleep patterns and general well-being. It is designed to counteract monotony, claustrophobia, and psychological stress.

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With an inner volume of 17.2 sqm, LUNARK is designed to shelter two people at once. It is powered by a 1000 Ah solar-powered battery. It aspires to be a zero-waste shelter, leaving as little impact as possible on the environment. Inside the unfolding pod, there is space for a 3D printer (for printing spare parts if needed), stowage for batteries and water, and a living algae farm. LUNARK also has a series of in-built digital software systems, including a weather simulator to help break up the day-to-day monotony, and an algae reactor, to nurture and monitor a source of nutrition.

The main principle behind LUNARK is its expanding volume, as the structure expands 750% after transport while testing it was a great success as it was easy to unfold and strong enough to withstand the extreme environment. “The habitat worked beyond all expectations. The unfolding was possible by just two people and no heavy machinery – and in the extreme cold of the arctic. Furthermore, the interior design and spatial organization worked well. We are not trained professional astronauts, our tolerance is much lower. So we needed a much more pleasant living environment. We wanted to create a home, not a survival machine – and the habitat really ended up feeling like home,” adds Aristotelis.

Earlier in 2020, SAGA developed a prototype for LUNARK using the principles of Japanese origami folding with biomimicry. The two architects, Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen, then went on a two-month mission to experience extreme isolation in northern Greenland where they tested LUNARK and its technologies themselves for future moon missions while enduring -30°c, hurricane winds, and hungry polar bears!

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In the two months spent in extreme isolation in Greenland, SAGA collected data about the performance of the unfolding origami structure and the circadian light panels that form the artificial sky inside the habitat. The duo also collected data about their psychological wellbeing, the impact of isolation, and how to deal with conflicts under extreme conditions which will help them make LUNARK even better for real missions.

“We wanted to make the most realistic simulation mission. If we as architects want to test the effect of architectural countermeasures in space we also need to simulate a realistic amount of stress on the participants (in our case ourselves). The cold arctic was the best bet for that. At the same time, the arctic has the most similar lighting conditions to the moon. It’s far away, remote and isolated so the experiment conditions forced our design to be easy to deploy,” said Aristotelis.

Having lived for months in conditions that resemble those in outer space, the two young architects collected a significant amount of data which they will analyze with a focus on human well-being and psychology. “The future looks great, our design worked better than expected which puts us on a solid trajectory to build in outer space,” Aristotelis concludes. SAGA is not only focused on making brilliant space architecture but is also putting the mental health of the astronauts at the core of their design which makes them stand out among all others on our planet!

Designer: SAGA Space Architects

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This leather card-holder is made just by folding a single piece of leather – no metal rivets, stitches, or glue

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With a design that relies on the simple powers of Origami and Kirigami, the One Piece Leather explores how to build products without additive or subtractive design. Armed with just one piece of stamp-cut leather (that’s probably the only subtractive process used in the entire product), designers Hou Shuo and Zhang Xiao have created a compact, minimalist leather card holder with 2 sleeves to separate multiple cards, and even a flap to close the cardholder and prevent objects from falling out.

The cardholder is perhaps the businessperson’s most important accessory. It does two main jobs, hold your own cards that you distribute to others, and hold the cards you receive from other people in the industry. Up until social media allowed people to connect to each other, the card-holder was the most powerful tool to expand your professional network. In a lot of ways, it still is an incredibly powerful piece of EDC, and the One Piece Leather is a rather nifty little product. Made from just one simple stamped piece of leather (ideally you could make it out of denim, Tyvek, canvas, or any other fabric), the One Piece Leather lets you simply fold your card-holder together. It ships flat-packed, making it rather logistically efficient, and engages you as the user, by letting you build your product (where have I heard this strategy before? Oh wait, IKEA!)

The holder’s clever design wraps around itself in a way that lets you segregate your cards by having a separate compartment for the cards you distribute versus the cards you receive… and its compact shape and size means your cardholder easily slips right into your pocket so you can carry it around wherever you go. Besides, the lack of rivets, stitches, and glue makes it pretty cost-effective (in terms of materials used/required and labor costs), and allows it to be more durable and easy to recycle too.

The One Piece Leather is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2021.

Designers: Hou Shuo & Zhang Xiao

This Origami-inspired lamp folds flat into a sheet while carrying, and opens into a nifty tabletop lamp when you need

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Working almost like an iPad cover/stand would, the ORY lamp is a nifty little flat-packed number that you can slide right into your backpack and carry wherever you need. Upon arriving at a dark setting that requires tabletop illumination, the sheet cleverly folds into a two-way tabletop lamp that shines light downwards and forwards, letting you easily light up a space for work, reading, dining, etc.

The nifty little Ory lamp (named for its origami abilities) assumes the shape of a flat sheet of faux leather, making it ridiculously easy to slide into backpacks, briefcases, or folders. It uses two powerful COB (Chip on Board) LEDs that sit flat within the lamp’s design, and comes with crease-lines that allow the flat leatherette sheet to transform into a tubular structure with two offshoots (sort of like two banana peels) that sport the LED strips facing downward. Switch the lamp on and the LEDs cast a bright direct light onto a tabletop surface. Flaps on the sides of the LEDs act as lamp-shades, preventing the direct glare from the LEDs from hitting your eye, while focusing the light downwards towards an otherwise dark tabletop surface.

Designer: Il-Seop Yoon

As interesting as the lamp may look visually, its internals are just as awe-inspiring. The lamp’s folding/flexing design still manages to cleverly integrate all the necessary electronics in, while still remaining deceptively flat. The lamp runs on a mobile phone Li-ion battery, giving it a slim construction, and even sports a wireless Qi-charging coil on the side, allowing you to fold the lamp up and place it on a wireless charger to juice up its battery. The absence of a traditional charging port, according to designer Il-Seop Yoon, allows the Ory lamp to be water-resistant too, so a couple of drops of rain (or a knocked-over cup of coffee) won’t do anything to the lamp.

Metal plates inside the lamp’s design give it structure while also providing the creasing necessary for the lamp to flip and fold. Moreover, I wouldn’t be surprised if they acted as a heat sink too, dissipating any of the thermal energy generated by the LEDs.

There aren’t too many technical details (or pricing) on the Ory, given that it’s currently just a proof of concept. Although, I’d really like to see the lamp hit production soon!

This Transforming Robotic Furniture Going From Bed To living room setup Is The 2021 Investment We Need!

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This past year has seen some pretty innovative work from home office solutions. But working from home is not all about work! In fact, the majority of our time oscillates between procrastination and clearing up home space to resemble that Instagram influencer’s tidy organized home setup. Fluffing cushions, folding throws, and making the bed is the first step that, if skipped, causes a residual tension you feel every time you walk past that untidy space and one thing’s for sure, you don’t need that!

Meet Ori’s latest bed that drops any time you want to drop! We love furniture design that saves space because space/building efficiency is key to climate change. Ori, an MIT-based startup has been a key factor in helping us look at designs a new way, Ori’s Cloud Bed, Sofa edition is giving us our Instagram goals, without the folding up you don’t want to do! Accurately called Cloud Bed because it drops from the ‘skies’ when you wish to sleep, this innovative piece can be a game-changer for tiny homes, urban apartments, and more. Logic dictates that for any person, only one product will be in use at a time – either their bed or the couch. Keeping this in mind, Ori’s bed hides in the ceiling when not in use during the day and reveals a complete living room setup underneath it – a couch as well as a matching coffee table. No more making the bed needed!

Brooklyn-based brand, Ori, adds this ceiling bed to complete its range of expandable closets and offices which are all created around the notion of minimizing space while maximizing functionality and never compromising on the aesthetics! Taking inspiration from the Japanese art of Origami, Ori is the need of the hour and finally gives you an easy way to Netflix, chill, and sleep without cramping on your tiny couch!

Designer: Ori

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Origami-inspired product designs that promise to add a sense of Ikigai to your life!

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There’s something so soothing and therapeutic about the Japanese art of Origami. Some may say it’s simply folding paper, but it is much more than that. Though I may not be very good at it, almost everything made using this technique is always super pretty and you feel like secretly storing it away from clumsy hands. Origami has been a major source of inspiration for designers. They’ve been integrating this technique into many of their designs, and the result is minimal, artistic, and beautiful products that instantly make you feel at ease. We’ve curated a collection of origami-inspired designs – from a minimal tea table that was inspired by it to a shoe grip inspired by Kirigami (a variation of Origami). Each of these designs will invoke a sense of peace and serenity within you, and you would love to add them to your daily life and living space!

Hasu transforms itself as the tea ritual progresses making it a contemporary piece of furniture that still pays a tribute to the process. It starts as a minimal compact structure and ends as a complete furniture set for tea time. Hasu’s design allows storing an extensive tea collection while presenting it in a unique and clean manner – it is almost like you can fold or unfold the tea time ritual like origami. There is a lot of storage for all the objects needed for tea rituals and the table allows you to present them one by one during tea time, it is all on-site so everything is handy as well as neatly tucked away. The unfolding of the four upper tabletops marks the beginning of the tea time ritual. Extend the seating to four guests by simply pulling the floor chairs from the table. Even when it is not in use, it still upgrades the space as an abstract piece.

The Origami Bottle may have a solution to that convenient problem. Designed to be reusable, but more importantly, be collapsible, the Origami Bottle folds down to 20% of its original size when not in use. Small enough to easily fit into any bag without occupying much space, the Origami Bottle neatly folds down to a nice, portable puck that’s easy and convenient to carry around. When you need to fill it up, the bottle opens up to a full size of 25oz (750ml). Made from a food-safe non-toxic TPE, the Origami bottle is characterized by its network of creases that cover the bottle’s sides. These creases act as fold lines, allowing the bottle to collapse and expand whenever you want it, but here’s where the Origami bottle’s design shines through.

With the Imagiro, the carpet isn’t just a carpet anymore, but instead is an imagination-fueled origami art-installation that decorates your home (or even a hotel/retail space) in all three dimensions, displayed as a part of the Wayon showcase by EINA University of Design, Barcelona.

The Clixo magnetic building set presents the most dramatic change to this classic idea, by disregarding the need for block-shaped pieces entirely. Instead of sticking to the tried-and-true design of geometric shapes, the Clixo pieces are thin and flexible, almost like a sheet of origami paper. Some of the pieces mimic the shape of a fidget spinner, with four leg-like structures with circular, magnetic connectors. What are the advantages of this design? Firstly, it allows a Clixo to do what a lego can’t: fold inward and attach to its own legs. Secondly, it allows you to build anywhere (literally). Conventional building blocks must be stacked on a flat surface, otherwise, they’ll topple over. Clixo pieces aren’t limited by that constraint. You can build a new creation on your lap, wrap them around your wrist like a bracelet, or even stick them on your fridge like magnets.

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The FODI is a nifty little stand for your tablet and smartphone. When flat, it measures a cool 1mm thick and uses the powers of Origami to fold open into a convenient stand that lets you dock your smartphone or tablet onto it at a convenient angle for watching videos, movies, or just regular video-chatting. The FODI is made from polymers that provide strength over periodic use (the PP gives it its flexible ability). Designed with alluring patterns like marble, granite, wood, or even graphical designs, the FODI goes rather well with the tech that docks on it as well as the decor around you. Its incredibly slim profile even means you can carry it around with you in your tablet-sleeve or backpack. If only it could wirelessly charge your devices too, that would just be perfect!

Inspired by the techniques used for origami, this compact and portable headphone is designed to fit into just about any space. Being a practical device, it is waterproof, dust-proof, and durable. Designer Vedang Kulkarni has kept in mind the key aspects of functionality and transformation. Needless to say, all controls are intuitively placed, so that you can access and adjust them easily. Audiball is your personal headphone and a smart speaker on the go. The telescopic headband is stylish and looks very chic as an accent in the speaker mode. Features include active noise-canceling technology for a better listening experience.

A century ago, not a soul would have imagined the advances in medical science we have achieved. Taking the evolution of medical surgeries a step further, MIT engineers have crafted an origami-inspired medical patch that can wrap around your internal organs with the utmost ease. This design makes it pretty useful in application to internal injuries or sensitive parts of the internal organs – airways, intestines, or hard-to-reach spaces. Aesthetically speaking, the design appears just like a foldable piece of paper; this patch contacts the tissues and organs. After that, it morphs into a thick gel that stays firmly on the injured area until it heals. The patch is made up of three layers – the top layer is an elastomer film consisting of zwitterionic polymers that become a water-based skin-like barrier. The middle layer is the bio-adhesive hydrogel having the compound NHS esters to form a strong bond with the tissue surface. The bottom layer is made up of silicone oil to prevent it from sticking to the body surface before reaching the intended target.

The University of Cambridge and The University of Queensland teamed up to create ‘The HappyShield’. The HappyShield is an origami face shield, that is created by simply folding a piece of clear plastic. The shield basically comprises a clear sheet and some elastic. Employing the curve-crease origami technique, the translucent plastic is folded on a template, and merged with a piece of elastic to create The HappyShield! The shield is very easy to make, and not does require 3D printing or any other complicated techniques. It can simply be made by hand and manufactured in bulk!

MIT engineers introduced a shoe grip, that was inspired by Kirigami – a variation of origami! It’s quite similar to snakeskin and is a sturdy friction-boosting material that will provide you with a stronger grip, especially when walking across a slippery surface. The super grip was designed bearing in mind older adults, as they are more prone to slipping, and it could reduce the risk of falling even! The Kirigami technique used here has been gaining a lot of popularity recently. It was even used to create a bandage that can artfully stick onto the tricky and deformable areas of your body. Origami has a lot more uses than we know, it seems!

The Bookniture Origami Furniture by MoMA is really as creative as a product can get! It’s a piece of furniture that folds into a book when not in use! When folded, Bookniture is basically a book, one that you can easily slide onto your bookshelf or your desk. When opened, it forms an accordion-style furniture design that can be used as a table, seat, or even a storage shelf. Despite the fact that it can be folded in origami-style, the design is quite durable and able to hold quite a bit of weight. So you can sit on it with ease, without fearing that it’ll break apart and you may fall!

Japanese tea rituals inspired this flexible, modular, origami-like wooden table!

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Tea time is significant in many Asian cultures, it is a moment of pause in the day where one can enjoy a peaceful moment of solitude or socialize and relax with friends. Tea time is a beautiful ritual in Japanese culture and Hasu is a tea table inspired by that zen practice. Hasu transforms itself as the tea ritual progresses making it a contemporary piece of furniture that still pays a tribute to the process.

It starts as a minimal compact structure and ends as a complete furniture set for tea time. Hasu’s design allows storing an extensive tea collection while presenting it in a unique and clean manner – it is almost like you can fold or unfold the tea time ritual like origami. There is a lot of storage for all the objects needed for tea rituals and the table allows you to present them one by one during tea time, it is all on-site so everything is handy as well as neatly tucked away. The unfolding of the four upper tabletops marks the beginning of the tea time ritual. Extend the seating to four guests by simply pulling the floor chairs from the table. Even when it is not in use, it still upgrades the space as an abstract piece.

Hasu is produced using several construction techniques (traditional + modern) and different types of wood joineries. The body is crafted from solid oak and features powder-coated aluminum details. It includes a brand new hinge system that was specifically designed for Hasu. The simple yet innovative design gives tea lovers a chance to elevate their rituals without adding clutter. It allows you to disconnect from the surroundings and cherish peaceful moments with loved ones while enjoying the warmth of the teacup in your palms.

“Just like an opening lotus flower, when the first rays of sun caress the horizon during sunrise, symbolizes the start of a new day,” says Mortelmans while perfectly describing the soul of Hasu.

Designer: Dieter Mortelmans

This award-winning to-go coffee cup comes with its own integrated origami lid!

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The LIDfree is less of a redesign and more of a re-imagination of lids themselves. A sustainable improvement on plastic lids would probably be to design lids that are made out of paper instead… but to redesign a cup in a way that it doesn’t need a lid? That’s truly something worth marveling. Meet the LIDfree, a to-go paper cup that comes with its own fold-in lid. While the lid isn’t 100% spill-proof (not even the plastic ones are), it does a few key things really well.

A. Preventing spillage.
B. Merging of two products (cup and lid) into one.
C. Giving you a central channel to put your straw (and even giving you the option to not use one)
and finally, D. replacing a wasteful plastic part with a recyclable paper one.

The LIDfree cup features a nifty folding rim that collapses inwards to shut the cup. While it leaves a central hole open, the design still, for the most part, remains spill-proof as the hole remains at an elevated position when the cup is lying on its side. Moreover, the central hole is perfect for inserting straws of any width (hopefully eco-friendly ones!) as the origami elements expand and contract to the diameter of the straw. Drinking from the cup is as simple as opening the rim outwards to turn it into a regular cup, and when opened, the LIDfree cup remains stackable, ensuring that the design satisfies all needs, from that of the barista to the consumer, to finally the environment!

The LIDfree Cup is a winner of the Golden Pin Design Award for the year 2020.

Designers: Chia-Chun Chuang & Pei-Chun Hsueh