Experience designers who work in digital media such as RIAs, video games, and DVD menus are already well conditioned to thinking beyond the page as a metaphor for organizing information structures. But paper itself is not the villain. In fact, paper can be transformed into all sorts of interesting interactive possibilities – including graceful and surprising transitions, progressive disclosure of information, impactful visuals, and above all, a compelling and satisfying simplicity.

1. Relocation Card, by Clay Porter Bell

In this playful RSVP card, the message “Please pop round for drinks” is a double entendre. “Pop ’round” are the casual brit invitation words, but also the die-cut circular window literally pops around to reveal a simple, witty reply form.

2. Matisse Picasso Exhibition Invitation by Salterbaxter

Concertina folds can create complex and playful transitions in paper. Here the faces of the artists are cut-up and spliced together, with the individual faces appearing only when the card is held upright and obliquely.

3. Discovery Networks Europe Mailer by Salterbaxter

Double gatefold panels fold in symmetrically to meet in the middle. The reveal here is delightful, with the choice of transition perfectly reinforcing the message of using the service to gain surprising reach.

4. Invitation for Smiths of Smithfield by Rodney Fitch

Here the simple use of a die-cut “cowhide” cover sleeve is evocative of a layer mask in Photoshop.

5. Tri-Ply’s Right Triangle Box by Nicepond

Packaging designers use the term close-packing to describe shapes designed to fit together on retail shop floors. In this great design the spines are embellished with index images of the object inside on one orientation, and a bold decorative pattern on another.

6. Rabih Hage Invitation by Hat-trick

Another double-gatefold transition, but used here to create a sense of depth and perspective in an invite for an interior design company. Looking through the cut-out rectangle helps to reinforce the illusion of an elegant room.

7. Altus Promotional Booklet by Andrew MacPhee

The muse for many interactive paper designers is no doubt the pop-up book. Here the designer uses restraint to show the power of breaking out of 2D planes to focus attention and give potential condo buyers a feeling of living above it all.

8. Skin Jewellery packaging by J. Maskrey/Artomatic

Transparent overlays are used here in the paper equivalent of a film-maker’s rack focus. Controlling the ‘depth of field’ via use of shifting focus is a cunning way to draw the user through an interactive narrative.

9. Animated wine label by Elhombredelalata

A clever low tech animation leverages one of the wine bottle’s great built-in affordances – it’s ability to be spun.

10. Nexus DVD Reel Packaging by Julia

A truly sustainable design, this DVD’s case is also it’s mailer. It’s clever zip opening gives the user the satisfying feeling of opening a package that comes in the mail, without any of the fuss – or mess!

Further Reading on Solid State UX:

10 More Great Interaction Designs – in Cut and Folded Paper

Sources:

Luke Herriott’s “The Packaging and Design Templates Sourcebook.”

Natalie Avella ’s Paper Engineering (Revised and Extended)3-D design techniques for a 2-D material

Smashing Magazine’s June, 2008 post Beautiful Brochures and Booklets

And, finally, the amazing packaging blog at The Dieline.com and their great new book:

Box Bottle Bag : the world’s best packaging design