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Origami Letter Outil de messagerie by Aquaring Inc.

Origami Letter Outil de messagerie by Aquaring Inc. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award d'Argent in Web Competition Category.


ArgentWeb· 2022

Origami Letter Outil de messagerie

by Aquaring Inc.

Client: AQUARING Inc.

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Web Category

Colors

The Design

About Origami Letter Outil de messagerie

Il s'agit d'un outil de messagerie qui utilise l'origami pour exprimer les émotions. L'origami est l'art traditionnel japonais du pliage de papier, né d'une marque de courtoisie. Autrefois, au Japon, le papier décoratif était soigneusement plié pour emballer les cadeaux. Cet outil met la communication moderne au service de cette tradition : il permet de créer une lettre-origami numérique, puis de l'envoyer ou de l'imprimer pour la plier soi-même, offrant ainsi deux façons de savourer ses messages.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Origami Letter Outil de messagerie est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent, une reconnaissance énormément prestigieuse décernée à des designs haut de gamme, superbes et impressionnants. Les lauréats Argent sont des œuvres tout à fait brillantes et extrêmement créatives qui illustrent l'expertise, le talent et la perspicacité remarquables de leurs concepteurs. Origami Letter Outil de messagerie est censé être une œuvre merveilleuse, une vitrine de savoir-faire, remarquablement professionnelle et profondément innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent est une invention très notable et admirée, qui sert l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. Origami Letter Outil de messagerie est une création très enviée qui éveille les désirs, apporte des sentiments positifs et suscite émerveillement et étonnement.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Origami Letter is a messaging tool using origami to express feelings.
On the site users can fold a digital letter or print and fold a paper letter, giving users two ways to send messages.
It was awarded Gold at the iF Design Award in Germany.
Dimensions & Packaging
For the digital letter, we created a system that converts text input by the user into WebGL textures without affecting their appearance. By combining pre-rendered images from 3DCG software with WebGL textures, we maintain a natural look and feel while enabling real-time interaction. We designed it as a single-page application that seamlessly creates a sequence of events, from writing a letter to completing the folded origami.
Tags
japan, origami, letter, message, culture, brother, expo, interactive, communication, webgl
Production Technology
We created a design with detailed decorations by combining the geometric similarities between origami, a sequence of folds, and the Middle Eastern arabesque patterns. For example, the polyhedral net for the origami crane inspired the arabesque pattern that appears when it is complete. These details and relaxing animations express a subtle worldview of heartfelt messages.
Design Challenge
Our biggest creative challenge was expressing the beauty of origami, and how a piece of paper can become a 3D shape in a digital user experience.
We paid particular attention to the first fold that hides the message, matching it to the same fold when using paper. It was accomplished through repeated examination and prototyping. In addition, we created a 3D animation by overlaying images using CG to produce a beautiful and bold expression.
Research
We sought to create a communication tool between a letter and a chat app. Apps are an everyday part of life, but they lack emotion with their simple UI, while handwriting can be a pain. That's why our tool is easy to use and express your feelings to others. It is the perfect communication tool for today's world.
After launching, we received a positive worldwide response.
Inspiration
Origami is the traditional Japanese craft of paper folding that began as a form of courtesy when washi paper was folded neatly to wrap gifts. Brother, a printer manufacturer, wishes to respect this Japanese tradition by making it a modern communication tool for people to convey their feelings.
Project Duration
The site officially launched in July 2020, but not promoted because the Dubai Expo, scheduled in October 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following several revisions, publicity began in October 2021 to coincide with the official opening of the Dubai Expo and International Letter Writing Week, which aims to promote cultural exchange and contribute to world peace through letter-writing among people worldwide.
Operation Flow
Folding paper origami is difficult for new users, but Origami Letter makes it easy for everyone. After writing a message, users can swipe or click to fold the digital letter, and finish it in three simple steps. Then they can share the URL, and send their precious message to someone special. It can be downloaded as a PDF and printed out to have the experience of folding it with real paper.
Team Members
Producer: Satoshi Nanbu
Project Manager: Kazuteru Ohashi
Creative Director: Naoki Sato
Designer: Ran Gu
Creative Developer: Wataru Kani
Front-end Engineer: Taku Ota
Front-end Engineer: Misako Baba
System Architect: Hideyuki Hirano
System Engineer: Masamichi Kagechika
Assistant Designer: Chihiro Okada
Assistant Director: Daiju Mizuno
Translation Director: Yasuko Sueyoshi
Communicator: Brandon Pittman
CG Director: Taichi Teramura
CG Designer: Taichi Ito
Origami Artist: Peter Saydak
Photographer: Kouki Hatano
Image Credits
ORIGAMI LETTER PROJECT TEAM

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