Origami instructional final

Here is the final mock-up of my instructional illustration, made in InDesign. What do you think? Click the image to embiggen.

Instructional proof

Here are the illustrations for the origami step-by-step instuctions. I just need to lay them out on a page, I need InDesign to do it, which I only have at school, so I'll have to do it later.

I think I'm also going to make the blue lighter, because otherwise it creates a strange phenomena of making the black lines appear to be lined in gray.

Instruction illustration: Concept

My concept for this step-by-step illustration is for a humorous origami instructional that gets more and more complicated. The photographs below are some reference photographs I have for the six steps. I'm still working on the captions (I have a couple ideas below).

 

How to fold a simple origami crane
1. Fold your paper in half from corner to corner.
2. Fold it in half again from corner to corner.
3. Next, open the flap and turn the sides in to make a boat shape. Turn over and repeat.
4. Then open the inside flaps to the outside corners while flattening the edges backwards. Take time to bandage any paper cuts.
5. Finally, separate the two sides to access the internal pocket along the inside edge. Pull the corners to the nearest edge--this is easier if a friend holds the flap at the opposite edge. [Third hand reaching in]
6. Done: a simple origami crane! [Hands have band-aids and paper is ruffled and torn]


How to fold a simple origami crane
1. Fold your paper in half from corner to corner.
2. Fold it in half again from corner to corner.
3. Next, open the flap and flatten it while bringing the corner to the opposite corner. Turn over and repeat.
4. Then open the inside flaps to the outside corners while flattening the edges backwards. Caution: this step may cause paper cuts.

5. Finally, separate the two sides to access the internal pocket along the inside edge... and then pull the corners to the nearest edge...or is it the opposite edge... beneath the flap?
6. Argh! Crumple your paper into a ball and go to BadOrigami.com for better directions. [The last panel would be a crumpled paper].


Right now I like the first one best. What's funny is that my first finger on the left hand actually is hurt (it's sticking out awkwardly on the fifth panel) because my cat bit me that morning. I was picking her up right as my partner turned on the vacuum cleaner next to her. She flailed and then turned and bite me--I could hear her teeth breaking through my skin in three places with a popping sound. It was gross... but luckily not infected.

Instruction illustration: Inspiration

In looking up instructional illustrations, I found that there are fewer artists out there who do it, or who at least advertise it on their portfolios. Understandably, vector drawings with a very crisp, outlined style is very popular; particularly a bold outline around objects and thinner lines for details. Here are two examples below, by Bryon Thompson (top) and Colin Hayes (bottom).

 

Here are some more by David Preiss, who I think has a little bit more creative coloring schematic in some of his work (or, he has the freedom to do so).

Step-by-step instruction: Brief

Client: BadOrigami.com

Project: Step-by-step instruction illustration

Specifications: Create a series of illustrations for as instruction sheet that show how to perform a simple action. Take photographs of the steps to use for reference material. Three to six steps must be shown in three-inch panels with explanatory copy.

Reproduction: The illustrations will be reproduced on a letter-sized piece of paper in CMYK.

Justification: I have enjoyed folding origami since I was eight years old. Periodically, I seek out challenging and complex instructions for new pieces. As with anyone who has ever tried origami, I sometimes come across instructions that are far too complex or confusing. I decided to do this illustration for BadOrigami.com, a site that has it's own (very good!) instructions for folding, and also recipes for their favorite cocktails and party snacks. Instead of doing a serious piece on origami instructions, I decided to do a satirically bad instructional as an advertisement for them.