Paper engineering / physical narrative systems
A collaborative paper-engineered narrative game prototype exploring how popup mechanisms, hidden clues, physical cards, and theatrical page transformations can support cooperative storytelling between adults and children.
Core idea
The prototype transforms reading into exploratory play. Popup mechanisms become spaces where clues may be hidden, story cards become prompts for deduction, and page turns become conditional narrative transitions.
Interaction
Readers slide cards with thumbnails into a pocket to determine whether the chosen clue continues the story.
Material system
Layering, concealment, depth, and reveal emerge from folds, cuts, tabs, and dimensional paper structures.
Collaboration
Story and project lead: Karen Royer. Illustration: Leo Bunyea. Paper construction: Karen Royer and Varun Bhat.
Design lineage
The project anticipates later work in tangible interfaces, material systems, embodied interpretation, and computational media.
Project narrative
The prototype was designed to test the feasibility of a narrative game in which a parent could read the story only if the child correctly interpreted clues hidden in the popup scenes. The book’s physical structures are not just illustrations; they are interactive spaces that organize story progression.
Early tests used fantasy illustrations, paper pockets, layered scenery, and story cards to ask how a book might become a playable object. The final dirigible spread demonstrates how an engineered popup mechanism can function as a narrative climax.
Production notes
Curated gallery
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Final page from the pop-up book showing the dirigible mechanism and stained-glass-inspired illustrated surfaces.
Images in this prototype came from a children's book I read to my children. Sanderson, R. (1999). The Enchanted Wood. Golden Wood Studio. (Original work published 1991). I needed illustrations for an early prototype testing how illustrated figures, interior space, and dimensional paper structures could support story progression.
A layered woodland scene exploring depth, atmosphere, and clue-based narrative discovery.
Prototype view showing how reader-players use thumbnail cards to identify the correct scene and continue the story.
The card system makes the book function as a physical narrative game, asking readers to match clues to page environments.
Storyboard documentation showing color planning, illustration development, and paper-engineering tests for complex popup mechanisms.
Related narrative object
A hand-carved ostrich egg retelling Sleeping Beauty through Aurora’s self-directed discovery, engineering, escape, and return. The carved egg extends the same interest in dimensional storytelling, craft, and speculative narrative agency.
The Curse
Aurora will sleep while others are awake.
The Discovery
While wandering at night, Aurora finds a library where she reads about everything.
The Plan and Escape
Aurora thinks it is silly to wait for someone to rescue her. She reads about math and engineering and art. She can build a dirigible and fly herself up and out of the briars.
The End?
Aurora flies out into the great world and has many adventures. She joins a group of other like minded folk and they roam the countryside helping where they can. Eventually Aurora returns to her home with many allies with whom she brings prosperity to her kingdom.
A carved ostrich egg retelling Sleeping Beauty through Aurora’s self-directed discovery, engineering, escape, and return.
Close-up process image showing pencil sketching, relief carving, and fine rotary tool work on the ostrich egg shell.