Meet Ori: the world’s first frameless umbrella inspired by origami

A new hardware startup founded by MIT engineers and leading origami innovators is rethinking one of the most overlooked pieces of everyday design: the umbrella. Ori, the world’s first frameless origami umbrella, replaces metal ribs and fabric with a single engineered canopy that folds with architectural precision.

At full size, Ori offers a standard 1-meter canopy. When closed, it collapses into a 3.5 × 23 cm cylinder, turning the canopy itself into the supporting structure. This shift from frame-dependent to self-supporting design reflects decades of folding research—some of it applied in NASA deployable systems.

Folding architecture becomes a product system - frameless origami umbrella

Unlike traditional umbrellas that rely on dozens of joints, ribs, and failure points, Ori uses a patented folding system based on the Miura fold, a mathematically elegant pattern designed for efficient compressibility and one-motion deployment.

The result is:

• A single degree of freedom opening motion

• Elimination of common mechanical failures

• Rigid, stable structural behavior without metal ribs

• A minimal, seamless exterior form

The engineering team has filed four patents covering the folding system, the internal locking core, and the smooth actuation mechanism—transforming a familiar object into a piece of kinetic design.

Digital features integrated into the canopy

Beyond physical innovation, Ori adds a discreet digital interface built directly into the canopy. These features are subtle, but intentional:

• AirSense: air-quality readings embedded in the surface

• MoodShift: visual themes adapting to weather or mood

• Display Aura: customizable color palettes

• Smart Touch: one-tap open/close interaction

These additions turn the umbrella into a responsive surface—a hybrid of industrial design, wearable tech, and folding architecture.

With first Founder Edition units expected in 2026, Ori represents a rare moment when a century-old everyday object is reimagined not as a novelty, but as a new category of personal weather device.

Written by Otávio Santiago, a designer shaping narratives through motion, graphics, and 3D form. His approach merges emotion and precision to craft timeless visual identities and experiences.