.. . .
In the summer of 2006, the Department of Computer Sciences at Purdue University got the idea of using one of my folding dissections from Chapter 6 for a brochure that would publicize its graduate program. I suggested using Figure 6.8, and further suggested modifying the folding so that it had the inside-out property. I was excited to see the project proceed to completion in fall 2006.
The brochure folds up into a rectangle 8 inches long and 5 inches wide, and it also folds up into a rectangle 6.4 inches long and 6.25 inches wide. So let's embark on a journey: We start with the 8 by 5 rectangle, with the front on the left and the back on the right:
.. . .
Continuing on the back, we can first fold up two panels (shown on the left), and then fold out one more panel (shown on the right). This latter photo shows all four folds well enough that you can see the direction of each fold:
.. . .
Now that we have folded out the brochure into a stair-step shape, let's turn it over to see the back with its stair step in blue on our left. Then, on the right, we can then fold two panels from the right to cover up the panel that says "Embark on a journey":
.. . .
Continuing, we fold down one panel to give the back of the 6.4 x 6.25 rectangle on the left. We discover that "You are Key". Turning over the rectangle, we see its front on the right:
.. . .
There's actually a bit more to the brochure than I'm showing you here. Because the paper that was to be used was thinner than what we would have liked, and also because we wanted to give more information about the graduate program, the stair-step shape is actually of double thickness and folds out to give twice the area. On the inside are pictures and quotes from some of our graduate students, listings of research areas, multidisciplinary efforts, universities and companies employing recent graduates, and various other facts and photos. Indeed, there's even a picture of me eating a hotdog at the welcome barbecue for new graduate students in August 2005, as well as a picture that includes my daughter studiously perusing the screen of a laptop! It's Happening Here!
Folding mechanism, copyright 2006, Greg N. Frederickson.
All images copyright Purdue University.
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Piano-Hinged Dissections: Time to Fold
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Last updated November 22, 2006.