Most common practical models and their purpose?

[Gerardo]

HI,

For a while I've been exploring other kinds of foldable materials. In many cases materials that are different from paper are better for practical models. This depends on the purpose of the model: My Coat hanger is best folded in a transparency sheet due to its strength but it's a very bad material for wallets since it tears kinda fast from all the opening and closing... I know, I know, it's not common to take practical origami this seriously .

Anyway, I wanted to make a classification of the most common practical models folded in origami. I have the following categories for now. I'm including what I consider the original purpose of each one.

• Bags: For collecting objects and transporting them.
• Bookmarks: For indicating a particular page within a book.
• Boxes: For storing objects.
• Card holders and wallets: For carrying and organizing small flat objects.
• Chopstick sleeves: I'm not sure if for protecting a pair of chopsticks by covering them or decorating them for special occasions (the use of origata).
• Chopstick rests: For keeping the tips of chopsticks lifted from the table.
• Envelopes: For concealing and holding flat objects.
• Lampshades: For diffusing the light from lamps.
• Letterfolds: For concealing messages and making them easy to take with you.
• Napkin rings: For holding rolled up or folded fabric napkins as part of a place setting.
• Packets and tatos: For storing small items (quote from origami-resource-center).
• Pencil holders: For holding writing implements for easy retrieving.
• Photo frames: For showing photographs.
• Vases: For holding cut flowers and provide water for them.

Did I miss another common practical model? Can you please tell me which?

A curious thing I just noticed (I'm a bit slow ) is that all this common models, except for the letterfolds, interact with other objects in order to be considered useful. Besides that, some imply more contact with our hands than others. You will touch many more times your wallet than a photo frame in order to use them both. And also, most of them need to be made between certain sizes in order to really be useful; card holders won't work if they are too big or too small.

Actually wallets are very demanding when it comes to choosing the best material. With the wrong material they can easily get dirty from grease, sweat and other elements from your hands, besides that, both their colors and the material itself have to keep their integrity within the compact space of your pants' pockets as the wallet moves along with other objects like coins and keys for example, and last, it shouldn't tear despite the constant opening and closing action. It becomes even more complicated if you want to use economical materials .

Currently my Shopping bag is challenging for me, since it also implies constant hand interaction and opening and closing action, but besides that, it has to resist mild rain and the original material must be big. And also, I do want to find a cheap option .

[origami_8]

Action models -> Good to pass time and keep children occupied.

[Gerardo]

Thanks origami_8!

I guess there's different opinions in this matter. Personally I consider toys a different category from practical models. I'd say that practicality is a very different goal from amusement. Know what I mean? But that's just my opinion .

[marckrsh]

The paper cup does not seem to fit into any of these categories. In part due to the interesting silver rectangle relationships used, the Paper Cup is my favorite traditional model. - Marc

[Gerardo]

Thanks marckrsh, I'm also a really big fan of the traditional cup. It has a trapezoid shape; are you referring to that one? I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it holding water and how easy it was to fold.

Are liquid holding cups a common category about which people keep on creating models? That's what I meant with "common models". I'm not trying to create a classification that can include all practical models, just one that describes the models that people keep on creating. Know what I mean?

Please let me know if that's the case, OK ?

[marckrsh]

Nope, I have not seen any other paper cups. - Marc

[RK - The_Creator]

Here something else: origami Jewelry.

Although I'm not sure if it belongs to the practical category, it can find its use in daily life.

When I made a Mockingjay necklace I realized how awesome origami jewelry actually is. You could basically use any model and attach it to a necklace-it makes really great gifts- ^^

[roodborst]

I remember there was a challenge to make a useable origami. There where lots of entries and they made a book with best models. Maybe you can find it on origamishop. The entries are somewhere on this website..

[Gerardo]

I know what you mean RK - The_Creator, for one thing a jewel isn't exactly a accomplishing a practical task. Besides that, we "could basically use any model" -like you mentioned- so it would be impossible to tell apart practical models from purely aesthetic models. Know what I mean?

Thanks roodborst . Unfortunately the challenge was about out of the ordinary useful models so it doesn't help me find other common practical models.

[LeafPiece]

There are quite a few origami vases out there and would fit the "common" attribute, but would it be a subset of the box/container group? I don't know how many people would use a paper vase to support real flowers, though, so maybe it's not practical. I usually only see paper flowers in paper vases . And of course, vases can be purely aesthetic, too. What do you think, Rebecca Gieseking?

[Gerardo]

Great idea LeafPiece! Do you know about real flowers? Do you think by folding one of those vases in waterproof paper it could work?

[LeafPiece]

I folded Verdi's Vase with Tyvek. It's leaky, but I did use an old piece of Tyvek... I think the bigger problem besides making it waterproof is to have a material that won't deform under the weight of the water, which is what the Tyvek did. Notice how saggy it is on the bottom. This vase is about 7cm across. You could make a smaller vase with less water, but if it's too light, I think any real flowers would be top-heavy and tip the vase over. I think an origami vase could work if you modified it with additional materials. Or perhaps there is another model that is more sturdy.

[Gerardo]

From what you say I think a transparency sheet would work best. I don't agree with cutting flowers so I'm just gonna say it'll probably work. Please don't test it for me .

I love that Chinese Vase. It's my favorite traditional model!

I can't see the image LeafPiece. It says "Image" instead. Can you please check out what happened?

[Gerardo]

I followed roodborst advice and checked out the challenges entries. I want your opinion on something.

1. Are origami hats used with a practical intention nowadays in real life. I read once that in the past people folded hats from old news papers in order to protect their hair when painting a room. But do people still do that or do they at least use origami hats for some other purpose different from amusing?

2. Is currently "phone stands" a common category in model creation? I only know three phone stand models but maybe there are more and people are still creating their own versions.

Please let me know what you all think .

[LeafPiece]

I can't see the image LeafPiece. It says "Image" instead. Can you please check out what happened?

Hmm, I'm not sure what happened. I tried two computers and it works. Does anyone else have a problem seeing it? I use Flickr for my gallery photos, but I use Photobucket for these general pics.