The Origami Forum

I've just been thinking about how and what I tend to fold, and thought I'd pose this question to the group:

How do you decide what to fold next? What your next project will be?

I find that I tend to start on a book and fold through every diagram and every model in the book, start to finish. I'm doing that right now with Eric Gjerde's "Origami Tessellations" book (I'm on #23 out of 25 right now). I did that last year with Kamiya's book. Before that with Montroll's "Prehistoric Origami", and his "Constellation of Origami Polyhedra" book, Robert Lang's ODS... and the list goes on.

Sometimes, I've had two books going, switching back and forth between them. But usually, its just one. And, from time to time (mostly between 'book' projects) I do individual projects here and there - one from this book or one from that website, etc... But mostly, I fold through a book.

I'm not sure why I do it that way, but I do. I always have a huge backlog of things I've seen, things I want to fold, or techniques I want to try. So its not from a shortage of ideas. In fact, its more likely the opposite - so many options that its almost impossible to make a decision. So picking one book and sticking with it minimizes the decisions I have to make. That's my best theory so far.

What do other people do? Do you just fold what you saw most recently? Or do you have an ordered list of projects that you're working through? How do you decide what project to work on next?

Just curious...
Kim

Well for me there are two types of projects.
Folding other peoples' designs, or designing my own stuff.

If I see model that I like the look of, and it has a CP or diagram available, then I'll try folding it.

I recently bought Origami Design Secrets and Origami to Astonish and Amuse, so there are quite a lot of nice models in there that I can fold when I feel the inclination.

ODS has really got my brain working on the design side of things, so mostly when I get a quiet time at my work I play around with designing my own models.

The monthly design contests here on the forum also give some inspiration and motivation to design my own pieces too.

Often times I choose a new project by browsing Flickr or the Origami Forum, and when I run into something that catches my interest, I start working in that direction.

For me? Oh, I'm such a failure that whatever piece I do,
The paper tears
I get lost
I just cannot do it!
That's why I keep to inventing my own models.

I normally either find something by looking on flickr or I have decide to fold something like a crab and look for a model thats suits my liking.

When I want to find a nice model to fold, I just Google "What have you folded lately", and click on a random page.

It depends on the situation and on what I like to fold at the moment. On my way to work I mostly fold things from memory, so nothing overly complex. On weekends I have more time, so I want something more challenging. Most of the time I choose a subject (lets say squirrel) and then browse my library and computer diagrams to find something that fits my imagination.
It also often happens that I feel like folding something of a certain complexity, or something with colourchanges or something from CP.
On other occasions I just browse through my instructions searching on something to fold. In these cases I select a variety of models that I fold one after the other. Usually I don't fold the models of a book from the beginning to the end, but rather select the models by their look.
As for designing, I need a subject to design something otherwise it won't work out. The monthly folding challenges are a good starting point as they give me an idea what to do next.

I found this to be an excellent & original question, with some stimulating answers.

I fold from books mostly.
If it's a new book, boringly I just fold through them cover to cover folding every model and never moving on until I've finished the last one satisfactorily. I try to learn something from every model, even if it's only the negative "I don't like how that is done".

There is one exception if its a 900 piece modular or similar, say from Kasahara-san's bookos, then I fold at least one of each of the constituent module types, but don't require myself to complete the entire thing (I don't have the patience for the repetition on that scale)

The only diagram I have ever tried to fold that I still cannot complete satisfactorily (Well, at all) is the Oryx from Lionel Alertino's "Origamania" (Free from Nicolas Terry's Bookshop http://www.origami-shop.com/) it is my nemesis.

If I don't have a new book to work from (This is very often), and as I don't have access to a computer at home, or the facillity to print out internet diagrams etc, I have constructed a randomizer Table that picks my next model(s), using some old D&D dice.

This means my next model is Jerry Barkers Gargoyle from Jay Ansills Book - "Origami Sourcebook"

My limited resources mean I repeat models, but that can't be avoided - it's a lot easier if you have no option!

I have tried creating, and can make interesting random multiflap bases based on kite folding variations, but have no idea how to assign flaps to specific places and finish them as I would like, so I tend to avoid it.

I wish I had the luxury of all the models & videos on the internet, but then I don't think I'd ever stop folding!

InsomniacFolder wrote:The only diagram I have ever tried to fold that I still cannot complete satisfactorily (Well, at all) is the Oryx from Lionel Alertino's "Origamania" (Free from Nicolas Terry's Bookshop http://www.origami-shop.com/) it is my nemesis.

Maybe you should suggest it in Sara's video instruction thread. I wonder if other people have trouble with it too.
I'm interested now, I think I'll have to go and grab that book and try folding it myself.

Edit: I tried it, and there are definitely some tricky bits and some very confusing parts, but I got through it in the end. My final model doesn't look all that great, but it seems to be about the right shape.

InsomniacFolder wrote:I have tried creating, and can make interesting random multiflap bases based on kite folding variations, but have no idea how to assign flaps to specific places and finish them as I would like, so I tend to avoid it.

I take it you don't have Robert Lang's book Origami Design Secrets then?
Not only are there some amazing models in there, there's a great deal of theory on how to design your own bases and models. It really opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Yes, couldn't agree more. Lang's "Origami Design Secrets" is a great book. Great models, and lots of interesting ideas and concepts.

Everybody has such different methods. This is fascinating to read about.

I also forgot that I spent a month or so trying to teach myself how to fold from CPs. That was interesting. To keep with my 'completist' ideals I did every lesson on Eileen's "A Beginner's Guide to Crease Patterns", from first to last, with some modicum of success. So that's kind-of like doing a book front to back. Then I picked one of the projects and decided to teach myself how to diagram a folding sequence. That was also interesting (spent another month on that).

But I haven't done any creating of my own designs. Yet. That will come. Its on my big list o' things to do!

Thanks for the replies.

I'm Looking forward to hearing from others on this!
Kim

spiritofcat wrote: I take it you don't have Robert Lang's book Origami Design Secrets then?
Not only are there some amazing models in there, there's a great deal of theory on how to design your own bases and models. It really opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

You are correct. It is a very expensive book (though considering the years of experience and theory it contains, great value for money - a lifetimes study for ~£45!) and I have not yet been able to afford a copy.
It's very definitely on my gigantic "books to get one day" list.
Am I strange that, in respect for Dr. Lang, I don't want to buy a discounted copy - I feel that the books worth waiting & saving for to pay the asking price.

Your Oryx is better than any of my attempts, I have a real Blind Spot on it! I think I managed all of the rest of the models in Origamania first time (Except for the Basilisk, where I made a stupid careless error) - Thank you for trying it I'll have another go this weekend!

How I decide on my next project? Honestly, it's quite a random procedure. Here are the most common options:

(a) I see a picture of the model, and decide then and there I want to fold the model. If I have access to diagrams, it'll probably be my next fold. If I don't and diagrams are in a book, there's a fair chance that it's the next book I buy. [In general, I often buy books for one specific model, and then explore the rest of the book.]
(b) Someone asks me for help on folding a model. Or they suggest the model for a video. Or I think the model might be suitable for a video. [Granted, sometimes I only read the diagrams, especially for helping people with steps.] Especially when I'm too busy to do much folding, this is how I decide what to fold. Which means this is how I've lately been choosing what to fold. Kind of combining the fun (folding) with the work (videos, helping others). Or is it the other way around?
(c) I meant to fold a design a while ago, but my origami skills just weren't good enough to do it justice. Every half a year or so I'll attempt the model again, and this continues until I actually am happy with my result. My 22.5 degree grid Kawasaki rose took three attempts (∼1.5 years) until I managed to complete a rose (from diagrams by Winston Chan, the locking mechanism was hard to get). Now I'm really happy with how I can fold the rose, and even taught it at the last BOS Convention (Spring 2009, Nottingham). I've yet to succeed in folding Kamiya-san's Ancient Dragon (3 failed attempts thus far..).

-- Sara

InsomniacFolder wrote:Your Oryx is better than any of my attempts, I have a real Blind Spot on it! I think I managed all of the rest of the models in Origamania first time (Except for the Basilisk, where I made a stupid careless error) - Thank you for trying it I'll have another go this weekend!

Now that I've folded it once, I have some idea of the stumbling points along the way.
Let me know if you run into trouble with it this time and I'll see if I can help at all.
Just don't ask me about the details of the face, I messed them up pretty seriously.