Ori
Ori is a set of folding furniture designed using structural origami. Driven by material and technique discovery, Ori is also an experiment in the design process.
I discovered structural origami during a product development internship. Our team experimented with the technique as a way to package non-woven products. I was inspired by the inherent beauty and structure.
I began experimenting with the technique when I returned to school. I found that the forms produced were simultaneously strong and easy to collapse. I examined potential opportunities, including emergency shelters, deployable barricades, and outdoor gear. I finally decided to pursue furniture because of the relatable scale.
I prototyped my designs first at 1/4 scale in paper, then at full scale in cardboard. The shapes were formed using a press brake. This both mimicked cardboard manufacturing techniques and allowed for bends without scoring, which compromised the material. The final design is a balance between comfortable proportions and minimized material.
Ori can be made for less than $10 in materials and without the need for special technology. It is capable of holding up to 200 lbs, and can deploy from its collapsed state in less than 4 minutes.
