For her Master's thesis in the Design Products program at the Royal College of Art, Jule Waibel cleverly employed the multiple meanings of her native language, German: Entfaltung may be translated as "unfold," "expand" or "develop," all of which describe the collection of three items that comprise the project. "Collapsible structures reflect how our world is constantly changing," she writes. "My response is to use folding as part of my design process."A particular folding technique can transform simple sheet materials into three-dimensional objects, with the additional capability that they can expand and contract. [The] dress [that] changes its shape according to the movement of the body, an expandable bag and an umbrella are all made of Tyvek®, a lightweight water- and tear-proof synthetic paper.
And although the results express the simple metaphor with geometric elegance, Waibel cited a surprising—albeit equally fantastical—source of inspiration: Mary Poppins and her magical bag. Captivated by the way "everything seems to fit inside—a mirror, a hatstand, a plant..." she set out to design a bag that shows "the minimum and maximum possibilities." The umbrella embodies "the beauty and aesthetics of folding," while the dress illustrates transformation, motion and flexibility "in a playful way."
As for the subtle color effect, the gradient was printed on the sheets prior to folding, as seen in the making-of video below.
Entfaltung indeed.
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