Let’s Fold Origami:
Jumping Frog (SPec Spot)

Below is an instructional manual for folding an origami frog using Jo Nakashima’s viral YouTube video guide. When I started this project, I wanted to create something that is written as simply as possible so it can be used by both young children and adults. I envisioned this manual to be something easily printable by teachers and parents as well, so it is designed using single page formatting (no facing pages).

I also wanted to make certain improvements on Jo’s guide based on my experience as an instructional designer:

• The video starts from a square piece of origami paper, but most people do not own this and will need to fold and cut their standard A4 paper into the right shape

• The instructions don’t include any information about when something is done correctly or what you are creating when you are making certain folds

• Sometimes, a fold is referred to by a technical term that not everyone may know, such as a “valley fold” or a “mountain fold”

Based on these goals, I designed the manual to have separate sessions based on what the folds are creating (the square piece of paper, the base, the body, and the base). I also made it clear throughout what the folds are meant to form. Finally, I used non-technical language to describe and show the folds so even people new to origami can use the manual.

Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator for the origami illustrations, Adobe InDesign for layout and copy