What designs do people generally like?

[failatfolds]

Hi!

I have A LOT of scrap paper from school (some of it colored too!) and I figured it would be good to turn some of it into origami and then I could give the creations away as gifts to my friends or strangers in public that look like they need something to brighten their day up. Eco friendly and creates a happier world! What's better than that?

So, what is one design I could make a lot of that is fairly easy and that people really tend to like? I can make some really easy roses. They aren't the prettiest but they are fairly nice and actually lay more "flat". Although giving origami flowers to strangers might give off a wrong message, haha.

I will leave this open to suggestions!

Thank you!

[GWB origami]

flowers would be nice but people also seem to really like the crane so you might want to do that. i hope this helps!

[Sunburst]

*sigh* Just make jumping frogs... Seriously, when someone learns that I do origami, they always ask for those. Even if you can perfectly fold a ryuzin 3.5, they'll ask for the frog.
Otherwise, more traditional stuff or animals in general should do the trick.

[Bass]

As someone who has been giving stuff away to friends all the way from elementary to college, here's what I find works:

Girls like flowers. Kawasaki Roses, traditional irises (with petals curled), whatever has good symmetry is usually always a win.

Guys are usually much more difficult. It either has to be "useful" or complex. Whether it be a Jumping Frog, Jeremy Shafer's Venus Flytrap, or an intricate dragon, it needs a wow factor or an "I could use this to bug people" theme.

What I find is a hit the most though, are well-done animals. I can't make enough Roman Diaz Bullfrogs it seems. Everyone has a favorite animal, and you'll find that they'll be a lot more grateful if you give them an origami rendition of that animal. That isn't too good for folding en masse, but it does help you build up a good memory. I have a sort of mental catalog of complicated origami animals in my head now, and I've yet to find a negative aspect of that.

[GWB origami]

cranes are usually a hit. for some people mutated cranes are also great.(eg, five headed, four wings, dragon head.) i actually had a origami business at school. i would fold some model, then people would see it and ask me for one, then i would set a price based on how complex it was, then i would give it to them. i got about $3 before it just got too stressful.

[failatfolds]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful ideas ^o^. The jumping frog seems cool.

[Flame_Kurosei]

For most people I know--they always seem to want the flapping bird that's on dev.origami or traditional jumping frogs--the fact that the models can move seems to fascinate people greatly.

I completely agree with you Sunburst--no matter what happens jumping frogs seem to have the most appeal.

[kareshi]

Can't go wrong giving a kid a dinosaur.
One piano student of mine gets origami as a reward for having a good lesson, he likes sea creatures.

For adults (birthdays 'n such,) my wife just requests from me some of my originals like cupcake, flower pot, stiletto, etc. Original design makes it more personal.

[GWB origami]

personally i would either like a supercomplex insect( probably cyclommatus metalifier) or something like ryujin.

[OrigamiGeek]

personally i would either like a supercomplex insect( probably cyclommatus metalifier) or something like ryujin.

that is because you can make the other stuff

[GWB origami]

thanks!

[OrigamiGeek]

I was just kidding you probably supercomplex insects and the ryujin

[tryingtofoldsumthing]

If someone wanted to give me a ryujin 3.5, then i would be perfectly fine with that!

[papagimp]

I made the mistake of showing off a Koi folded from a dollar bill (Won Park's design) and now all my coworkers want one. At least I'm getting good at that one model Nobody ever wants the cranes though, but I do leave them all over my shop like easter eggs so they're always turning up randomly.

[Baltorigamist]

Girls like flowers.

I personally would not agree with that statement. One of my best female friends prefers animals (mainly mammals) above almost anything else.