The St. Ives apricot facial scrub has been around for nearly 3 decades. For a new advertising push they recently contacted Taro’s Origami Studio for some unique new models.  To begin with, the origami studio created 2 basic paper models for St. Ives; one of them was a traditional origami folded model and the other, more complex model was made using paper craft techniques.  These samples were then sent to the ad agency so that they could inspect them in person.

The 2 apricot models: the origami one on the left and the paper craft model on the right.

Once the papercraft model was chosen, the client was actually pleased enough to ask the studio to look into the feasibility of some other fruit models as well.  Using computer wire-frame, skinning, and lighting models the studio was able to generate a render of what the other fruits could look like if they were to be mass produced.

A computer render of an entire fruit lineup.

In the end, the apricots were the models that were ordered.  The were painstakingly hand-made out of Canson Mi Tientes cardstock paper.  The process consisted of sending the wire-frame skins of the models to a specialty origami model printing machine, which pre-scores the paper along crease lines and then precisely cuts each model with a blade.  These pre-creased flat models can then be folded and glued into place by the Taro’s Artists to look exactly like the renders.

Some unfolded apricot models, and a few in the middle of the construction process.

Taro’s Senior Artist Frank Ling constructing some of the models.

All told, 30 apricots were delivered to the client for their advertising needs.  Each one of the models took about an hour through the cutting to the final construction phases.  Even though this process of computer generating and sculpting models wouldn’t be classified as traditional “origami” it is a great way for the studio to be able to show a client exactly what a model would look like before spending the time, money, and energy to build them.  It also greatly expands the amount of things are now possible to create with paper.  From tiny fruits to full size animals, and using their decades of paper know-how, there’s nothing Taro’s Origami Studio can’t build!