Star Ananke (variant A)

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As part of preparations for my presentation and workshop on contemporary origami, I set out to design a simple modular star which I could teach in the workshop. This is a genre I never tried before, but which I found quite enjoyable to design. Before I even knew, I had several different designs, not counting variations. Since these models were supposed to be as simple as possible, I expected at least some of them to have been independently invented by others before. Indeed, this particular design differs from 6-pointed modular star by Robin Glynn only in the way the flap used to lock the modules together is folded. Also, Wei Fu designed the same model independently.

After several workshops I can say that while this model is very simple for most origamists, teaching it to first-time folders is not quite simple. Many people without any origami experience are able to fold this model, but quite a large percentage struggle with the reverse fold. This shows how much experience can change: if you know what a reverse fold is and how to fold one, folding this model is a breeze. If you don’t, it may pose some difficulty.