Origami | Folding Light - Projected Play

This project is created as a course assignment at the California State University, Long Beach; taught by Dr. Behnaz Farahi: DESN 586 Human Experience and Embodied Interactions Studio.

Project members include Ava Jouyan, Anthony Vivas and Sofia Ingegno.

With this course, we were assigned with the task - and on many occasions - challenge of interpreting the practice and art of origami into an embodied experience. Furthermore, our aim developed into: How can we create a collaborative experience with origami?

Exploration

We first began by defining "Origami":

• Origami - ori= folding, kami= paper; in Japanese kami becomes gami - translates and is defined as folding paper.

While this practice is rooted in the folding of paper, it has evolved into across disciplines and mediums. Taking inspiration from the traditional forms itself and viewing innovative iterations in science and art from case studies, we were able to understand the breadth in which this traditional Japanese method of folding paper has grown to.

Image Credit: Pinterest

As a team we worked in digital and in paper formats.

Using Rhino, we developed an origami miura model, indicating the valley and the folds to demonstrate how a flat surface can create different folding patterns with same creases.

Exploring the following folding pattern ( Process Large Scale Miura Origami, Large Scale Miura Origami,Water-bomb Origami ) ignited our curiosity on how the same crist pattern can create different structure leading to utilizing Rhino to explore the different structures changing. See: Rhino Origami 1, Rhino Origami 2

Additionally, we also explored infinite dynamic structures testing the capabilities of a paper:

Small Process Kresling Origami, Small Kresling Origami, & Firework Origami.

Case Studies

Here were some of the initial inspiration videos that provided cross disciplinary inspiration: Volumetric origami structure, How NASA Engineers Use Origami To Design Future Spacecraft, & Bio Inspired Origami.

Primary case studies that assisted in our final project development are as follows:

Origami-Inspired Building Blocks

Creator Erik Åberg, developed "Ghostkubes", a series of connected cube structures via hinges that are easily moveable and manipulated creating varying curvilinear shapes, or almost exotic like structures through these hinges, that possess a folded ability to them.

Watts Towers, Los Angeles, CA

An unexpected case study, we found to be valuable, was understanding the value from the development and construction of Simon Rodia's Watts Towers,. Made from found objects in an unlikely setting, and in a collaborative manner, these structures demonstrated the process of development through collaborative efforts.

Studio Joanie Lemercier | Tutorial: Origami and projection mapping

In this case study, origami not only became a 3D art form but way to develop and change the surrounding environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. This process involves holding multiple sizes of the same modular triangle form, and then mounting them onto a wall and taking a projection mapping program to draw lines of light as outlines on the triangle bases with the ability to then alter, the projection ability, light movement or color.

Ideation and Development

Becoming more familiar with origami and how it has been developed and used in different cases, we decided to challenge ourselves trying to make Origami collaborative.

Challenge Statement:

Traditional origami, while a beautiful art form, often presents itself as a solitary activity. It lacks opportunities for cross-collaboration and interactive experiences. This project aims to address this limitation by encouraging users to engage with art through tactile exploration and immersive experiences facilitated by origami folds.

Project Ideation:

Working with P5*jS, teachable machine, and Arduino we developed a model that recognized 4 colors (red, blue, green and orange) which would then change the light in the Arduino to reflected the respective color shown. See here for demonstration video!

Attached is a schematic for the Arduino Light:

While we initially explored teachable machine and Arduino components, we ultimately focused on utilizing P5*jS for our project's development. This exploration, however, proved beneficial in familiarizing us with how technology can be integrated with origami.

Informed by case studies examining successful collaborative projects, various fold types, and the potential of technological integration, we embarked on an exploration of creating an aggregate form of collaborative origami (see images below).

With the prototyping implementation of this form, we discovered that working or folding, even adding to a single surface in an aggregate form disturbed already completed folds on the paper's surface. Though this was a challenge we faced, it enabled us to take the concept of aggregation from single folded forms into a collaborative interaction through the use of P5*jS and Projection models. See final steps below for the final process!

Drawing our final project diagram

We would like to extend a very special thanks to Julian Ceipeck for assisting and mentoring our group with our P5*jS questions/challenges and Denny Cubbage for additional technical assistance!

Origami Paper | 3 sizes:

• 6" x 6"
• 8" x 8"
• 9.3" x 9.3"

Cutting Matts or a flat folding surface

A large table/flat surface with clean background

Projector | Lightform Projector (discontinued)

HDMI Cable

Laptop

iPad

Bluetooth Mouse or trackpad

See video for tutorial!

1. Begin with a square sheet of origami paper.
2. Fold the paper in half diagonally, bringing one corner down to meet the opposite corner. Crease the fold well.
3. Open the fold.
4. You should now see a faint "X" crease pattern in the center of the paper.
5. Lay the paper flat with the creased "X" facing downwards away from you the folder.
6. Take the top and bottom corners of the paper and fold them downwards, aligning them with the center crease.
7. These folds will create right angles along the "X" crease.
8. You will now have a basic three-sided pyramid shape.
9. Focus on one of the triangles of the pyramid.
10. There will be some excess paper folded inwards at the base.
11. Take the corner of this excess paper and fold it upwards, aligning it with the existing fold inside the triangle.
12. This will make the bottom edge of the paper parallel to the internal crease.

You have now made a modular origami triangle!

Inspiration from these pre existing code models:

Enabled us to....

Explore how to make aggregate trees utilizing varying sizes of equilateral triangles for Panoramic stop, Versed Capacity, Spotty Workshop (we owe a special thanks to Julian Ceipeck), Slender Den, & Merciful Silverfish.

Our final Code is Merciful Silverfish, which was used through an overhead projection model. (see step 4)

For this projection model, we took a celling mount and pointed the view of the projector directly on-top of the desired surface (a drafting table covered in white paper). Our P5 model then had the ability to be projected exactly on top of the table, when connected via HDMI or wifi.

To project the CODE follow these instructions:

• Click on the link for the code > File> share> full screen.

OR

• Use the VS code app - for further information watch this video

To have a fullscreen for browser:

Using Safari:

• Safari > View > hide tab bar

Our final video demonstrates how the participant interacts with the code and projector, by clicking the trackpad on the table, connected via bluetooth to the computer running the code, which then indicates with a circular light on one side, which Origami triangle model will be moved and then placed on the projected triangle adjacent to that circular model with in the canvas.

Here is a YouTube playlist of all our process videos.