Finding a way to stand out in a crowded field is always a challenge, but for the Shumaker Production Design and Transformation team (http://www.shumakerpdt.com/) based in Lancaster Pennsylvania they have always found a way to be different, even for their own company retreats.  Instead of traditional entertainment, Shumaker PDT invited Taro’s Origami artist Ben Friesen to help create something to remember.

After talking with staff from Shumaker, it was decided to create an origami mobile for the headquarters of the company downtown.  The design was modeled off the spheres in their logo.  Also, this way the production and fabricationally-inclined staff could actually help make the units during a staff event.

To get things started, Ben helped select an interesting origami sphere shape,  Then, he used an origami design program to create an outline of the folds and shapes needed in the model, and finally he sent the design through a specialized printing machine that can both score the creases and precisely cut out the final shape.  This way all of the complicated lines and angles were already printed into each sheet so that when the models were being taught everyone could participate.

The event was held at the Lancaster Historical society headquarters, located next to the home of 15th President of the United States and America James Buchanan.

The Lancaster Historical society has a wide range of artifacts from around the Buchanan presidency, including a wax figure, and original stagecoach from his house.

The Shumaker team was a quick study in the model and they all worked well together to help make sure everyone finished their model.

In the end the models where made in the two main colors of their logo and and 3 varying sizes.  From there they will be used to assemble the mobile that will hang in their headquarters for years to come!