From fold to form: paper folding as a design methodology in furniture and product development

This thesis examines the role of paper folding in generating furniture and product design concepts. Paper folding offers an accessible, cost-effective, and rapid method for exploring fundamental elements and principles of design. With just a few creases, a prototype can emerge—one that can be translated into a wide range of materials and fabrication processes, as demonstrated throughout my graduate work.

The thesis is organized into three sections. The first introduces paper folding and its significance across architecture and design, highlighting examples from designer Thomas Heatherwick, architect Daniel Libeskind, and fashion innovator Issey Miyake. The second section traces my transition from two-dimensional art to three-dimensional design. Early paper-folding assignments sparked this shift and led me to Paul Jackson’s influential books, whose exercises clarified the importance of rhythm and the value of paper as a tool for ideation. The third section documents the design, prototyping, and fabrication of three projects: Isthmus, a display of folded paper tiles; Ascension, a 3D-printed lamp modeled in 3ds Max from an initial paper fold; and Cascade, a MIG-welded, powder-coated tubular steel frame chair paired with an upholstered knife-pleat sling seat.

The thesis concludes by discussing the design principles revealed through paper folding and how their application in three-dimensional work can produce more inviting and compelling products. It closes with a brief look toward future explorations in three-dimensional upholstery textiles.