Patience for modular vs. single-sheet models

[Sara]

I decided to make a modular piece for my partner's mother [Layered Passion Flower by Meenakshi Mukerji, book: Ornamental Origami, see Meenakshi's website for a picture]. And yet again I've become quite frustrated and bored with the process.

But this lead me to the question: why?
I am usually very patient with single-sheet models. That is, I'm fine with folding a couple of hours in one go. [Ok, it stops at about 7 hours.] This includes tessellations, which are usually similarly repetitive as modular origami.

So is it just me? Or is there something about modular origami that nudges others' frustration points, too? Even better, is there some method for me to get rid of my frustration with modular origami?
The thing is, when others (non-folder) look at stuff I do, they are most impressed with either pretty simple modular pieces, or (more unlikely) quite complex single-sheet models. And I really don't do any sophisticated modular pieces. The one I'm doing now needs 30 modules, and yet again I think to myself I really shouldn't have started.
This is sad, because I do agree that there are fantastic modular designs out there. And many modular design are simply pleasing to look at.

But then again there is the frustration, so I only rarely attempt modular projects. I get frustrated when folding, and the assembly often involves cursing, taking a break to calm down, and then going back to the half-assembled or totally fallen apart model. And that - for me - really isn't the point of origami. Other projects I am proud of, and it is relaxing or even energizing to make them.
Often, when I look at a completed modular piece (that I folded myself), I mostly remember my anguish and that I really shouldn't ever fold it again. [As to what others folded, I am impressed by their patience, and I can much more appreciate the look of the model.]

[It has also crossed my mind that, possibly, with modular origami you should spread the project throughout a couple of days, rather than doing it in one go. But I like to finish things that I started - if not on the same day, then the next.]

Going back to folding the remaining 13 modules, and already dreading the assembly,

-- Sara

[P.S. I do teach modular designs regularly for the Oxford Origami Society, and some members clearly prefer modular origami. Others clearly prefer single-sheet models. I can't think of anyone in the group that equally likes both, actually.]

[origami_8]

Sometimes I like to make modular things for a change, then I really enjoy doing them. They are great for long drives to work or when waiting at the doctor, because most of the time the modules themselves are easy to remember and do not need lots of concentration. But I hate it when the modules do not hold together properly. The first one I decided to fold from Meenakshi's book was like this. In the end I was so frustrated having folded all that modules that didn't want to stay together that I used glue and afterwards didn't dare to take a photo of the ball because I was so ashamed of myself. But modules with a good locking mechanism can also be fun to assemble. Try for example Mio Tsugawa's Arabesque: http://puupuu.ojaru.jp/zu/arabesque/ara1.html

Single sheet models can be frustrating as well, when they do not turn out as excepted, being several layers thick, making the final shaping impossible and the like. My feeling is that these only seem to be less frustrating because you folded them only once and not a thirty times, even though the folding time may be longer then for the 30 pieces in total. So in the end you only have one single piece that is crap and not thirty perfect pieces that are crap because you can't assemble them and they only look nice when being assembled. And I think that's the point that makes these modulars so frustrating, that you actually have folded everything right, that the pieces are looking good and still it doesn't work. On the single piece model you can say to yourself, that either you've done something wrong or the diagrams are bad or that the whole model is just crap but you don't have the feeling that you wasted your time on perfect folds that are useless.

[Oruhito]

hello Sara,
great post! I completely understand your frustrations. I myself agree that folding representational work, where there is a direct purpose and folding sequence is less frustrating. You feel like there is some progress being made. Modulars on the other hand, require lots of patience, and making progress isn't as evident.

I digress when you start talking about assembling. Often times my issue is the temptation to start assembling as quickly as possible instead of folding all the modules. (I am very impatient and don't do modular pieces often )

I'v found the easiest way to pass time and not get frustrated is to fold the modules while watching t.v. It's amazing how although you're attention is focused on the show, you are still producing large amounts of modules. I find this helpful for anything that requires a repetitive process such as precreasing, knitting, etc,. Assembling on the other hand would require more attention. I hope this helps. Thanks for an interesting discussion!

[OrigamiGianluca]

I've chosen Single-sheet non-tessellation models, but I have to add some explanations.

I love modular origami, usually the most spiky they are the most I love them. But I'm also incredibly lazy with modular.
I said "incerdibly" because it happens very often to me to spend many consecutive hours on a single model. For my last version of angelfish, for example, I kept folding for more than 6 hours without any stop (from eight pm to 3 am...).
But when I star some modular design I can't do more than 10 modules.

I think this is the dark side of having started creating my own origami by doodling.
This makes me not to do the same fold for to times without asking by myself "what if..." and in a ruch I find myself modifing/redisigning/redoing the module.
So at the end I have n different modules that don't mach each others

Therefore I admire very much who is able to do several modules with the same attention, precision and passion.

I also agree with Anna. Modulars are great to make time run faster.
Last week I was exhibiting in a fair in Frankfurt, and the last day of the fair was very boring. It passed better folding 32 modules.
As soon as the good will come back from Germany I'll show it to you

[Zoraz]

Even though I have never attempted a modular that needs more than 12 pieces of paper (for fear of running out of colored paper!), I get bored after folding maybe 6 modules. I also partially assemble the model as I fold the modules, which usually results in them falling apart, or tape<shudder> . I prefer representational because their crease patterns are really fun to solve (right now im on a kamiyathon), and they aren't really repetitive, unless its a grid (which im okay with).

Also if I dont really get one part of the CP I can just crumplesome of the creases... but thats only with kami!

Ive never tried tesselations...I should do that sometime.

[Leaflock]

That's kind of funny; I'm the opposite. Every attempt to get better at single-sheet folding has been met with frustration, with the exception of tessellations, but I typically don't grid beyond 32nds. What I tend to do with modulars, though, is assemble as I go. This gives a tangible reward for your efforts as well as breaking up the monotony of making the same folds over and over again. It may just be me, but I think it's really cool to watch a model take shape over time. And while I've tried the TV approach, I'd much rather sit near a window and let my mind wander off on whatever it finds interesting or watch the world go by. The key word is patience. If you find yourself getting frustrated, get up, walk around, or take a deep breath and focus yourself again. Modular origami can be a lot like meditation.

[malachi]

Folding single sheet models, single sheet tessellations, and multi unit modulars are all very different experiences, so definite preferences are not surprising.

Single sheet models are usually best folded in a single, focused sitting and require a certain type of attention to progress and detail. Progress is tangible in the sense that there is always a bite sized progress marker of the next step, making even complex models digestible.

Modular models, on the other hand, tend to be fairly simple units that are repetitive. They don't require the same level of concentration and can usually be memorized (at least for the duration of a model). I find that it's much easier to deal with them if I don't try to fold everything in one sitting. I will usually count out the sheets I need and put them into a plastic bag that can hold the sheets and the finish units. I usually work on units when I have a spare minute here or there, and I don't focus so much on trying to get it done in a hurry. Progress is tangible in the sense that you can count the units you've folded and the ones you have left, but that usually lends itself more to a feeling of despair instead of progress because it can be overwhelming to think about how many units you need to make to finish the model (this gets worse when you need more units, it's best not to think about progress in terms of unit numbers when folding things that require more than 30 units, it's like looking down from a great height.)

Tessellations are a slightly different case, and I'm not sure how to classify them. I find the precreasing really tedious, so I usually do a bunch of precreasing as a mindless activity so I have some precreased sheets to create tessellations with later. Actually creating the tessellation can be tedious, depending on the number of iterations, but I don't count them, so I just have a sense of progress without getting bogged down with details.

I'm sure it's different for other people. I find each has it's own situational advantages and I enjoy all three.

[Ben385]

I find I have great patience with both modular an tessellations.

For example, I recently attempted to fold the ancient dragon, but gave up, and I then folded a 128 grid!
I usually only have patience with modulars if I am using 5cm paper, but recently I have opened up a little to larger modulars.

[OrigamiGianluca]

Modular origami can be a lot like meditation.

Right!
Modular origami gives a very hard trainig to our brain

[Sara]

So I did complete the model yesterday. See http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-muj ... ion_flower for the not so satisfactory result. Also, I really don't think the locking mechanism is stable enough. Really!

Now back to the topic...

But modules with a good locking mechanism can also be fun to assemble. Try for example Mio Tsugawa's Arabesque: http://puupuu.ojaru.jp/zu/arabesque/ara1.html

Once I've overcome my modular [s]mania[/s] wounds of despair, I'll have a look at the model. The pictures look nice, and a good locking mechanism does sound alluring.

I'v found the easiest way to pass time and not get frustrated is to fold the modules while watching t.v.

Ah, well, I guess that'd be problematic - unless I bought a TV.
But seriously, for me origami is usually something I want to dive into, not something I do alongside other stuff.

Also if I dont really get one part of the CP I can just crumplesome of the creases...

*gasp* No, you wouldn't! Blasphemy!

Modular origami can be a lot like meditation.

Well, that's the problem. I can't really get into that stage of getting somewhat lost in the process. Non-modular origami can be much like mediation for me, and I'd love to have that for modular work, too.

And I agree very much with the summary malachi wrote. Although, I have to say I don't enjoy all three equally.

-- Sara

[Zoraz]

Don't worry! Crumpling is like my last ditch effort to desperately finish something thats a little over my heaad. I dont make it habit.

[Leaflock]

Modular origami can be a lot like meditation.

Right!
Modular origami gives a very hard trainig to our brain

That's not what meditation's for. Ever try to sit perfectly still and not think of anything? It's harder than you might think.

[notefolds]

I have more patience for modular pieces. The reason being that the individual pieces are usually much simpler than complex single-sheet models. So if I mess up a modular piece, I can easily fold a new one.

That being said, with complex single-sheet models, I usually make sure that I have several hours free before beginning to fold. I'll lose focus if I don't finish it that day.