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Our Origamido Jewelry Design System

Good design is most often simple, and so we begin by exploring the wealth of possibilities within the most simple and familiar bases.

All origami objects are abstract by virtue of the folding process. It is this abstraction of an idea into geometric planes, shadows, and angles that provides origami jewelry with the potential for achieving a unique and timeless elegance. Just as the crystalline structures of gemstones and the architectural windings of seashells have enchanted humans for longer than anyone can know, origami’s geometric underpinnings make it so inviting to the eye, intriguing to the mind, and entrancing to the spirit.

We often use the musical performance as a teaching analogy for folded art. Well-chosen paper is the instrument. If the paper is patterned, the scale of the patterns, colors, and textures will provide tone, and even play their own notes, too. The design is like the musical composition that provides the strength and substance necessary for durability. Elegant results demand a careful, heartfelt execution, or a cogent interpretation during your performance. Refining your folding skills takes “practice, practice, practice” as does playing any musical instrument artfully.

Beginning with the preliminary form—four sets of alternating mountain and valley creases radiating from the center of the square —numerous different, elegant, and durable “beads” result from varying just a few subsequent folds. These sturdy elements can be simply strung and hung as necklace pendants or earrings, or combined by tabbing and tiling. Most of our origami jewelry elements are folded from single squares such as these, but multi-piece, inter-locking designs (connected with tabs and pockets) are particularly useful for making interesting cluster arrangements, or adjustable-length necklaces, bracelets, belts, and bands.

Fancy papers make excellent jewelry after laminating (back-coating with paste) for adding body and strength.

Back-coated florist’s foils make versatile folded “beads.”