Origami: Eye of the Wave

Eye of the Wave

Eye of the Wave, designed by me

This is a pleat-based model that I made in 2020.  You can see some other examples of pleat-based models here and here.

This is made with 64×64 divisions.  Where the horizontal and vertical pleats meet, the paper is layered in a way that causes it to contort.  I really like this one.

How to fold D. Hinklay’s “Stone Board”

Back in 2017, I designed the Cube Tessellation. It’s one that I have shown off here on multiple occasions. I have a crease pattern, step by step instructions, and it appeared in the Geometric Origami Convention in 2024.

Cube Tessellation

Cube Tessellation, designed by me

I recently discovered that a professional origamist, known as D. Hinklay, has been making a model titled “Stone Board” which is identical in design, down to the crease pattern. There are several  several youtube shorts from 2022 and 2023, totaling over 50M views. I also found an instagram post that explicitly claims it’s an original design. At time of writing, his website lists multiple Stone Boards, including one going for $3500.

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Origami: Fish Curler

Fish Curler

Fish Curler, designed by Ekaterina Lukasheva

The Fish Curler is one of the most elegant designs in modular origami.  It’s an all-timer, a classic.  There are instructions publicly available, and they fit into a single page.

The units are attached by simply wrapping them together in a spiral.  There are a number of modular designs based on this same principle, but none so simple and effective.

Origami: Jagged Bomb

Jagged Bomb

Jagged Bomb, designed by me

I’m going to the East Bay Origami Convention this weekend!  I’ll be teaching this model.

I specifically designed the model in order to teach it.  Normally, modular origami takes a while to make, and people wouldn’t finish within the session.  Especially something like this model which has 14 units.  But this is just about the fastest thing you could possibly make with 14 sheets of paper, so I’m hoping some people will be able to finish it.

The mathematically inclined may raise eyebrows at 14.  What symmetrical shape has 14 components?  And it’s pretty hard to tell from looking at it, because it’s so chaotic.  Ask me in the comments if you can’t figure it out.

I also made diagrams.

Origami: Spike Dome

Spike Dome

Spike Dome, designed by Aurélien Vermont

Today’s model is a tessellation that I folded at the Geometric Origami Convention in 2024.  That means we folded it within an hour and a half, not counting precreasing.  Very nice design, and potentially adjustable.  In principle, you could make spikes with any number of points, and have them spiderweb across the paper as you please.  For example, Aurélien has a model with the big dipper.

Personally, I look at these spikes, and I want to make them spiral!  Not sure if it’s possible within the design.

Origami: Four linked Triangles

Four linked triangles

Four Linked Triangles, designed by me

This is an original design that I made in 2019.  The instructions are lost to time.  I usually at least have some messy digital sketches, but I got nothing here.

Well, I recall a bit from memory.  This is one of those designs that follows a fairly braindead design pattern: throw lots of pieces of paper at it.  Each triangle?  Six separate sheets of paper.  I’m sure part of the reason I didn’t preserve instructions is that I was not so impressed with the design.  If I gave it another shot, I’m sure I could do better than that.

How did I think of linking four triangles?  Well, that’s nothing new.  There’s a very famous origami model called Four Intersecting Triangles by Tung Ken Lam.  (That model only uses three sheets per triangle.)  So, I just have a hole in each triangle.  It’s neat to assemble, because when you only have three linked triangles, they lie flat, and have a valknut topology.  Once you put in the fourth triangle, it is forced into a 3D configuration.

I later took this design, and made a 10 intersecting triangle version.  That design… was not terrific.  Maybe I’ll show it at some point.