Exploration of Miura-fold structures in design

• Main Author: Tong, Qian Ling
• Other Authors: Chalit Kongsuwan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Visual arts and music::Design::Product
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71311
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The concept where we live in a state of “fluidity” intrigues me immensely as I see how we have progressed with technology. From analog devices turning digital, buttons to fingertip swipes; this advance in terms of how we work, play and communicate inspired me. I reimagined a possible near future where people lived in small spaces and how furniture design could play a part in creating a fluid environment. With this state of “fluidity” in mind, I was intrigued by origami structures and how it is continuously studied for its robust structure and foldability. In the works of Issey Miyake and Reality Labs, he redesigned how traditional lanterns were made by incorporating techniques of origami and his investigation in material made of PET recycled bottles. This allowed his versions of lanterns to be without internal skeletons or frames, while retaining its robust structure and foldability. The basis of the project is on structure and a specific type of folding in origami is chosen to explore in order to focus and better facilitate the design process. Due to its myriad of desirable characteristics, origami became the main creative impetus that I want to apply for pushing the boundaries of furniture design. In the final outcome of my project is intended to instill the sense of movement in form as well as lightness in terms of weight. The end goal is aimed to achieve the harmony between opposing characteristics: robusticity and lightweight.