Diagrams: Aadya Star Box

Aadya Star box and its crease pattern. Folded by Hans Dybkjær. See PDF diagrams.

Remember the article Creating via Blintzing, which used the Spanish Box as an example? In 2021, I gave a talk on that topic and suggested people try it themselves. Govind did exactly that and came up with this beautiful box, which looks great and has some interesting folding sequences.

Govind asked if I could make a diagram, and he provided a nice video illustrating the folding to guide me. I happily accepted, and the result is the diagram of the Aadya Star Box by Govind Kulkarni available through the link in the caption above.

The diagramming posed some interesting challenges. Diagramming is a different discipline from folding. You want to consider, among other requirements:

• Teaching: The folder needs to understand your instructions.
• Cleanliness: You would like the model to end up clean, with no unused creases.
• Ease of folding: Different folding sequences have different complexity.
• Space: How many sheets does the diagram spread over?
• Drawing skills: Can you draw what happens?
• Aesthetic: The diagram should be pleasing to look at.
• Medium: For mobile, laptop, home print, book, or other media?

Three issues stood out when I test folded the model. When marking the bottom of the box, the video creases through all layers, ending up with an extra crease on the top. The model goes 3D pretty early, challenging both understandability and my drawing skills. And finally, the locking flap tends to unfold.

The first two points can be resolved by changing the folding sequence — an important consideration when diagramming. Every model can be realized through many different folding sequences, and which is better comes down to purpose: folding it for yourself; folding quickly, cleanly or accurately; diagramming; videoing; or teaching one-on-one or in a classroom.

The diagram above gets rid of extra crease by utilizing a careful folding sequence, apparently without sacrificing the other issues.

Pursuing the 3D-issue, I found another folding sequence; see the link in the caption at the end of this article. It introduces another crease line, this time emphasizing the star shape but also leaving the surface less clean.

Interestingly, while the first diagram uses a blintz and closely resembles the Spanish Box (see PDF diagrams), the second diagram has no blintz, and essentially goes through the traditional turtle base. See step 6 of the Turtle PDF.

As for the small locking tab of step 12 of the original Aadya Star Box, above (or step 7 of the box diagram below):

• Fit the tab snugly into the edge between the top and the side of the box.
• Curve the paper, which is a well-known locking mechanism on its own.
• Use sturdy paper that holds folds and curves well.
• Use a bit of glue, as Govind suggests. This is strictly in the best traditions of classical Japanese origami.

The Aadya star boxes of the two photos, made from 120 gsm copper pearlescent paper, do the first three things, and they hold together well, even after a long time in existence.

Enjoy, and best greetings from Govind.

Aadya Star Box variant by Hans Dybkjær, and its crease pattern. Box folded by Hans Dybkjær. See PDF diagrams.