mixMotion presents kamiko: an interactive kinetic sculpture of origami

mixMotion presents kamiko: an interactive kinetic sculpture of origami
all images courtesy of mixMotion

‘kamiko’ is the creative vision of artist and designer karlen chang, creative director of the design firm mixMotion. it is an interactive kinetic sculpture that responds to your presence by moving and changing its shape and color.

the project finds its origins in the form of fortune tellers, the small objects kids fold and decorate to humorously predict the future and tease each other. as multiple modules of the origami are combined, tactile surfaces and geometries are developed. the insight is that with the right design, even a simple piece of paper can create a range of dramatic emotions. ‘we want people to feel an emotional connection to kamiko. we focused on making its physical presence, movement, and personality as emotionally expressive as possible. we’re exploring what relationships and emotions can develop between people and interactive objects/creatures,’ says karlen chang, creative director of the canadian firm. as a result, the work is a glimpse into the potential of materials. it asks us to imagine a world where everyday objects have real personalities: lamps, couches and tables become animated characters in your life.

the sculpture viewed from below

the sculpture’s body looks and feels like paper, but is actually a synthetic polymer that is resistant to tearing and moisture. when its hand-folded components come together, they maximize its movement and physical expressiveness. a micro controller acts as a brain and along with sensors that detect the presence of people in the nearby vicinity. the central hanging crystal has an expressive color changing light inside. each of these mechanisms are driven by a motor system and spans more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) in diameter when fully open. ‘kamiko’ debuted at TEDxtoronto 2013 and will be part of the permanent collection at the erarta museum, the largest private gallery of contemporary art in russia.

kamiko debuts at TEDXtoronto

the geometries responding to the movements of people at the event

side view

diagram of movement from closed to open 

its translucent, paper-like texture is actually a synthetic material resistant to tear and water

a child’s fortune teller

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.