Engineers around the world are increasingly turning to the ancient paper arts of origami and kirigami for inspiration, discovering that the principles behind folding and cutting can unlock surprising possibilities in modern technology. What began as a joyful moment in a laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has become part of a wider movement to rethink how materials can transform, adapt and perform.
Akib Zaman, a PhD candidate at MIT, vividly remembers the moment his research finally worked. By pulling a thread attached to a flat, waffle-like sheet divided into irregular tiles, the material suddenly compressed and rose into the shape of a small, sculptural chair. Inspired by kirigami, which allows for cutting as well as folding, Zaman and his colleagues developed a way to 3D-print flat structures that reliably pop into complex three-dimensional forms when tension is applied. The process relies on precisely angled tiles and cuts, guided by software that converts digital 3D designs into flat templates.
The potential applications range from architecture to medicine. Zaman suggests the same principles could be used to create buildings that assemble themselves or microscopic structures capable of unfolding inside the human body to deliver drugs at specific locations. Despite such promise, turning origami-based ideas into practical engineering solutions has long been difficult.
One challenge is complexity. Techniques such as the Miura fold, invented by Japanese astrophysicist Kōryō Miura to compact solar panels for space missions, are mathematically elegant but not always the simplest solution. Mark Schenk, an expert in origami-inspired engineering at the University of Bristol, notes that scaling up folded designs and applying them to rigid materials like metal remains difficult. While origami has yet to become commonplace in engineering, he says improved mathematical understanding is now driving renewed interest and commercial experimentation.
Some start-ups are already finding ways to bring folding into industrial production. Swedish company Stilfold has developed a method of creasing sheet metal using a blunt wheel, creating curves that increase stiffness without adding extra material. The approach reduces the need for brackets and supports, cutting both cost and carbon emissions. Stilfold has used the technique to manufacture electric motorcycle chassis and is now working with Volvo and Scania to explore lightweight components for vehicles.
Elsewhere, origami principles are being applied to flight. Researchers at Northeastern University have patented foldable wing structures that mimic the way birds adjust their feathers mid-flight. The designs allow wings to flex, fold or subtly change shape in response to air pressure, potentially improving the efficiency of aircraft or wind turbines.
Despite growing excitement, widespread adoption will take time. Engineers are often cautious about abandoning conventional methods, and many origami-inspired concepts still require extensive testing and investment. For now, the ancient art of paper folding continues to bridge creativity and science, quietly reshaping how engineers imagine the future of materials—even if some of those studying it prefer to leave the paper cranes to others.
