The PCOC 2021 Design Challenge is an opportunity to showcase your design skills. It is a challenge, not a competition; there are no prizes, but there will be a small gift for each participant, plus, anyone who participates will have their name submitted for a drawing to win an origami gift basket that will include gifts from sponsors and Paper Tree.

The theme of PCOC 2021 design challenge is San Francisco Landmarks. Examples include:

If you know of other landmarks not listed, please feel free to design one of them instead.

PCOC 2021’s design challenge overlaps with our diagram book, which will have a section focused on San Francisco landmarks. You are not required to submit a diagram to participate in our Design Challenge, but if you do wish to share instructions in our diagram book, see details for submission.

Submission Guidelines

  • The model that you submit must be your original design.
  • Since PCOC is an all-age, inclusive event, please keep your entry “G-Rated” (appropriate even for children to look at) and non-political. If you are not sure of its appropriateness, please ask us at pcoc-info [at] origamiusa.org.
  • You can enter up to 2 models, but there will be one gift for each participant.

If you plan to participate in the design challenge, please fill out this entry form by Monday, October 4, 2021. We would like to make sure that we have enough table space for the display.

Setup, exhibit, and takedown of the design challenge models will be handled exactly the same way as the Exhibition. Please read the Exhibition page for details.

If you are not attending PCOC 2021 but still would like to participate in this challenge, please ship your model to Paper Tree using the following information:

Paper Tree
*PCOC 2021 Design Challenge*
1743 Buchanan St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

If you wish to have your models returned to you, you must include a prepaid return shipping label (USPS, UPS, or FedEx). Your models will be returned in the same container as it was received. Please pack carefully. If a prepaid return label is not included, the works will become property of PCOC.

For further shipping questions, send an email to linda [at] paper-tree.com or call (415) 921-7100.

We look forward to your participation in PCOC 2021’s Design Challenge!