The Origami Forum

Im trying to find out what people's favorite design method is, because as soon as i can get my hands on some origamido, i want to become a designer. I like using the tree method, but that might not be best.

I prefer using boxpleating for my designs. It is far easier to use than tree method (at least for me) and it is better suited for the type of models I design.
Also, by «doodling», do you mean to randomly fold your paper until you get something interesting?

What about none of those? Or all of those?

I really can't classify my designing into any of those. Also, existing bases is another option you should add.

I guess the closest would be doodling, because I do that a lot.

I basically just say "all right I want these structures here", come up with a rough design that does it and then refine its until it's perfect. Then I do the same with the finishing. Or I start out with one concept and go from there. Also, I almost always use diagonal symmetry.

Sunburst wrote:Also, by «doodling», do you mean to randomly fold your paper until you get something interesting?

If it is so, doodling also for me, just because it has been my only origami technique from my beginning.
Well, it would be more correct to say "doodling on traditional base" (bird, frog etc), because it is what I've used to do before creating my own bases.

Box pleating and tree are not my favourite, but I think that "all of those" would be the most correct choice for me, since now I often mix all those techniques

what about circle packing?

I think circle packing counts as tree method.

Well anyway, I've only been designing for a few weeks and Box Pleating seems to always work out nice. I would like to start using Circle Packing/Tree Method though. Box pleating seems too "regular"

What does "tree method" actually mean?

Robert J Lang wrote:Tree theory: the body of knowledge that describes the quantitative construction of crease patterns for uniaxial bases based on a correspondence between features of a tree graph and features in the crease pattern.

http://langorigami.com/science/treemake ... aker5.php4

Zoraz wrote:Im trying to find out what people's favorite design method is, because as soon as i can get my hands on some origamido, i want to become a designer. I like using the tree method, but that might not be best.

You should practice a little before getting origamido paper....that stuff's expensive, it would be a shame to waste it until you have a finished design!

As for design techniques, you didn't even mention tessellations.... that's my forte. But for animals, I prefer doodling; you play with the paper until some part of it starts to look like something (like a head, or some arms, or wings, or whatever) then isolate that and develop it into a full model. It's worked well for me, although if I'm trying to design a specific subject it's not always a good idea.

When I'm trying to design something in particular, I tend to try out different methods, and keep making sketches again and again. This way I'll be more likely to find a well-proportioned base that I can develop into an elegant and artistic model. I guess what I'm saying is that just one of these methods isn't enough; you've got to learn to use a vareity of them, or else your models will all start to look the same and you'll get stuck.

thanks for all the feedback! im thinking that if i get good at trees, box pleating will be a little easier. for mammals though ill make sure to try hybrid things. My main focus on designs is living things, since there are so many that i cant find anywhere that someone else has done. for example, im going to try to be the first to fold an amblypygid.

And ill make sure i am an expert at the model before i even consider origamido.

I think Katsuta Kyohei did one of those. It's a whip spider, right? CP in Tanteidan Magazine #98.

darn, that means i can't be the first. Its a nice one too! ill still try to design one though!

Just a note about designing insects/arthropods from my experience: I haven't folded many of them. That is probably because they are so hard to design well. They must be very efficient to manage the thick layers of paper and still, of course, designed well with all the right proportions, flap arrangements, and detail. Don't expect to design a great insect at first-try mastering simpler structures before you move to the more complex ones.

I used to design a lot of insects, I haven't designed one in a while though... I'm not saying i don't like designing other things, but you do need some thin paper or at least some MC to help when folding insects, arachnids, or arthropods. And yes, you should always make sure you can fold your model with very few mistakes. It helps a lot.