Compositions
Origami compositions are arrangements of separate models where the composition is more than the sum of its parts. You could also view them as multi-sheet mod...
Origami models by type
Browse origami models by model type. Note that a single model may belong to multiple types, and the types themselves may be contained within other types.
Major types related to number of sheets in a model
Compound Origami
This is a category of models folded from multiple sheets of paper, but with the sheets folded in ways sufficiently different for the model not being modular ...
Modular Origami
Modular origami (also known as unit origami) is a category of models which are built from multiple sheets of paper, connected by means of folding. Individual...
Multi-sheet models
Multi-sheet models are folded from more than one sheet of paper (but, at least in pure origami, these sheets are connected only by means of folding).
Single-sheet models
Single-sheet models are folded from just one sheet of paper. This is the most classic kind of origami.
Major types related to folding technique
Action origami
Action origami is a class of models which have movable parts. These include all sorts of mechanisms with elements that slide relative to each other, multi-pi...
Corrugations
There is no universally accepted definition of an origami corrugation, but the one I like to use says that a corrugation is an origami model which has just a...
Crumpling
Crumpling techniques create lots of small creases on the paper in a partially uncontrollable way. They can be used to create organic shapes or distinctive te...
Curved Folding
Models in which folds go along curved rather than straight lines.
Models with Cuts
While contemporary origami frowns upon cutting the paper, a number of traditional designs, and some modern ones, do use cuts in addition to folds.
Models with color change
Color-change is a technique in which both sides of the folded sheet are displayed. If the paper has two different colors on the two sides, this can be used f...
Money Folds
Money folding (with dollar bill origami being especially popular) is the technique of using paper money as folding material. Since the size of the bills and ...
Pixel art
This is a category of models which create a pattern or image from many small points, like the pixels on a computer monitor.
Tessellations
Origami tessellations are a technique which makes it possible to create complex, repeating patterns on a plane by folding a single sheet of paper. Tessellati...
Wet-folding
Wet folding is a technique which makes it possible, through the use of moisture, to fold thick paper and shape it in interesting ways. This list only contain...
Major types related to subject
Abstract
Abstract models do not directly represent any objects of the real world. Nonetheless, many can be described as representing something, for example mathematic...
Figurative
Figurative (representational) models are those which represent some real-world object.
Metaorigami
Metaorigami is a term I coined in order to describe origami models whose subject is another origami model. Some examples could be a tessellation which repres...
Origami-first designs
There are a group of models which I call origami-first designs and which could also be described as useful origami, origami objects, or practical origami. Th...
Patterns
This type is for models whose subject matter involves patterns and repetition.
Single units
Pages dedicated to single units: a unit by itself is a single-sheet model, but is most usefult for building modular origami (multi-sheet) models. Having a se...
Selected more specific types related to subject
Animals
Models which represent animals (including fictional non-humanoid beasts).
Architecture
Models representing all sorts of buildings, bridges and similar structures.
Astronomy
Models which represent subjects related to astronomy: planets, comets and other celestial objects.
Books
Models which represent books.
Boxes
There are many kinds of origami boxes: simple and complex, from a single sheet and modular, boxes with a hinge and models where the lid is separate from the ...
Clothes
Models which represent garments and other elements of clothing and dress (note that models which are intended to actually be worn, e.g. origami jewelry, can ...
Coasters
A coaster is a kind of small mat on which a glass or mug with a drink can be placed in order to protect the table.
Envelopes
A number of envelopes, both plain and decorated, can be folded in the form of origami without the need to use cuts or glue.
Food
Models of various foods.
Fractals
Fractals are a class of mathematical objects which are characterized by self-similarity: a part of the object resembles the whole. Such structures can be app...
Furniture
Models which represent furniture and other objects found in homes.
IT-Related
Models with a subject related to IT (Information Technology), such as computers and logos of software packages.
Jewelry
Jewelry designed from the start up in the form of origami.
Landscapes
Models which represent landscapes, seascapes, etc.
Origami paintings
This kind of model represents a whole “painting” using a tessellation technique. Due to their complexity, such models are usually hard to reproduce and also ...
Other Mathematical Objects
Mathematical objects not grouped elsewhere.
Other Objects
Models which represent real-world objects not grouped elsewhere.
Other Organisms
Models which represent any broadly-defined “living things“ which are not animals or plants.
People
Models which represent people, including fictional humanoids.
Plants
Models which represent plants such as trees or plant parts such as leaves and flowers. Abstract floral motifs do not count, though the boundary is rather blu...
Religious
Models with a religious (usually Christian) subject.
Symbols
Models representing abstract symbols such as letters.
Tatos
Tatos are kind of origami similar to boxes, but they are flat and have a specific kind of closing mechanism.
Vehicles
Models of all sorts of vehicles.
Major types related to preferred folding material
Business Card Origami
Business cards can be used for origami, especially for modulars. Some kinds of units are very simple which makes folding models with huge numbers of them pos...
Tea Tag Folding
While tea bag origami has gained some popularity, it seems that tea tags have not been used so much. As an avid tea drinker, I had to try folding some models...
Toilet Paper Folding
As the name implies, toilet paper folding is about making origami from toilet paper. In most cases what matters most is the format: a very long and narrow st...
All other types
Abstract Aperiodic Tessellations
Tessellations with abstract, aperiodic patterns.
Abstract Corrugation-Tessellations
Corrugations which are at the same time abstract tessellations (probably the most popular kind).
Abstract Corrugations
Corrugations with abstract patterns.
Abstract Non-Periodic Corrugations
Abstract corrugations which are not periodic.
Abstract Periodic Tessellations
Tessellations with abstract, periodic patterns.
Abstract modular origami
Abstract modular origami, usually representing highly symmetric geometric shapes, is the most popular kind of modular origami.
Abstract single-sheet models
Abstract, usually geometric, designs, each folded from a single sheet of paper.
Abstract tessellations
Abstract tessellations are the most popular type.
Balls and Polyhedra
Models representing all sorts of polyhedra, including roundish ones (spheres and other smooth shapes can mostly only be approximated in origami).
Classic Tessellations
A classic tessellation is a model which uses a tessellated pattern as its main subject (meaning the tessellation is not used just in an auxiliary role such a...
Crosses
Models which feature some variant of a cross symbol.
Cubes and Cuboids
Cubes and cuboids get their own category due the large number of designs.
Figurative Corrugations
Corrugations used for creating figurative origami.
Figurative modular origami
Even though this is a less popular genre than abstract modulars, Modular origami techniques can also be used for representing real-world objects.
Figurative single-sheet origami
Figurative models are those which represent some real-world object.
Figurative tessellations
Figurative tessellations are, as the name implies, origami tessellations which represent actual objects or whole scenes.
Flowers
Models which represent more or less realistic flowers. Obviously, some abstract patterns can be considered floral and the demarcation is a bit fuzzy.
Geometric
The term geometric origami is not well-defined. Here, I use it to mean all non-figurative designs.
Hearts
Models which feature the heart symbol.
Intersecting Planes
Models consisting of a set of flat elements (usually in the shape of stars or polygons), intersecting in a central point.
Leaves
Models which represent leaves of more or less realistic leaf-like patterns.
Letters and Digits
Models representing letters or digits.
Living Things
Models which represent broadly-defined “living things“.
Logos and related symbols
Models representing logos and other similar symbols.
Mathematical Objects
Models representing a wide array of simple mathematical objects.
Metaorigami tessellations
Metaorigami tessellations are tessellations which represent other origami models (see more about this idea under metaorigami).
Modular Balls and Polyhedra
Balls and polyhedra are among the most common forms modular origami models take.
Modular Boxes
Origami boxes which are folded as modular origami.
Modular Fractals
Fractals and other self-similar structures created with modular origami.
Modular Origami-First Designs
Origami objects folded as modular origami.
Modular Stars
Flat modular origami stars are a popular genre. These are often very decorative models which can folded with relatively little effort due to the small number...
Modular Woven Polyhedra
Woven polyhedra, also known as polypolyhedra, tangles, or wireframes (in my opinion this term is too broad), folded as modular origami. Due to the models’ sh...
Modular cubes and cuboids
Cubes and cuboids are in a separate subcategory since there are so many designs of such shape.
Modular intersecting planes
These modular origami models look like sets of planes, set at an angle relative to each other and intersecting at the model’s center. The planes are, due to ...
Modular spiky balls
Modular spiky balls (sometimes also called 3D stars) are among the most popular shapes folded from multiple units.
Natural Sciences
Models related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.).
Non-Recursive Periodic Tessellations
Tessellations which are periodic but whose molecules are not recursive.
Origami Box Lids
Origami boxes in this category are folded in such way that the lid is folded from a single sheet of paper, and the bottom part from a separate sheets. The li...
Origami Chains
These are modular origami models which create a one-dimensional structure (as opposed to quilts, which are two-dimensional). Such models can usually be exten...
Origami Quilts
Origami quilts (which could also be described as modular tessellations) are models which can tile the plane just like tessellations, but constructed from mul...
Origami-First Design Corrugations
Corrugations used for objects designed up-front as origami.
Other Abstract Modular Models
Abstract modualr models which do not fit into any other categories.
Other Decoration
Decorative objects not classified elsewhere.
Other Mathematical Objects, Non-Modular
Mathematical objects not grouped elsewhere, folded without the use of modular origami techniques.
Other Modular Mathematical Objects
Mathematical objects not grouped elsewhere, folded as modular origami.
Other Modular Origami-First Designs
Origami boxes which are folded as modular origami.
Other Modular Polyhedra
Modular polyhedra not assigned to more specific categories.
Other Natural Sciences
Models related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.) not listed separately.
Other Origami Objects
Origami-first designs which don’t fit into any other category.
Other Plants
Origami models of plants not classified elsewhere.
Other Polyhedra
Polyhedra which were not assigned to more specific categories.
Other Symbols
Models representing symbols not listed elsewhere.
Other abstract single-sheet models
Abstract single-sheet models not classified elsewhere.
Other single-sheet polyhdera
Polyhedra folded from single sheets, not classified into more specific categories.
Periodic Figurative Tessellations
Periodic tessellations whose molecules represent some figurative subject.
Periodic Metaorigami Tessellations
Periodic tessellations representing other origami models.
Periodic Tessellations
Periodic tessellations (those with translational symmetry).
Picture Frames
Origami picture frames.
Recursive Non-Tileable Models
Models which are recursive but not tileable in the way tessellation molecules are.
Recursive Tessellations
Tessellations in which the same element is repeated recursively as smaller and smaller copies inside the molecule.
Recursive and Periodic Tessellations
Tessellations which are at the same time recursive (each molecule contains smaller copies of itself) and periodic (those molecules can be tiled on a plane si...
Single-Sheet Boxes
This category is for boxes which are folded from just a single sheet, i.e. no separate lid/bottom is needed. Some of these boxes are open on one side and can...
Single-Sheet Metaorigami
Metaorigami single-sheet models are those which represent other origami models (see more about this idea under metaorigami).
Single-Sheet Origami-First Designs
Origami objects folded from a single sheet of paper.
Single-Sheet Stars
Single-sheet models whose main subjects include abstract star symbols.
Single-sheet cubes and cuboids
Cubes and cuboids folded from single sheets.
Spiky Balls
Models representing all sorts of stellated polyhedra and other things that look like balls covered with spikes.
Stars
Models which represent variants of the star symbol. More realistic representations of stars appear in astronomy section. So-called “3D stars” are in spiky ba...
Tessellated Stars
Stars appearing as the subject of origami tessellations.
Tessellation Modulars
Tessellation modulars are a class of models generally similar to modular origami, but with the modules being tessellation-based designs. This is similar, but...
Trees
Origami models of trees.
Woven Polyhedra
Woven polyhedra, also known as polypolyhedra, tangles, or wireframe models (the latter is, in my opinion, too broad a term).