We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Phillip Koo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Phillip below.

Hi Phillip, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

About five years ago, my son and I decided after a Chinese New Year festival that we would see what opportunities we would have doing origami. He was given a challenge in his youth group to take $20 and do something meaningful for any local outreach project. When we were walking along we decided to take this idea and walk with it.

My son took this idea and started a line of smaller pieces and I took the larger projects. This was really the first time we’ve integrated both of our minds and started this as artists. But we also had a heart of an entrepreneur and decided what would this look like as an “artistpreneuer”?

Therefore, over the next year, we made several original pieces and decided to showcase at at smaller event. From there, this is when we decided that this was a fairly new space that we could use our creative minds.

Phillip, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

How did we start? In 2017 my son who was 11 at the time was walking through a Chinese New Year Festival in Arlington, TX. It was there where he saw a shop vendor sell these small 3d origami pieces. There were several to choose from and he went ahead and bought a miniature bird.

What followed was intensive research and learning from a Brazilian 3d origami artist on YouTube named Pekeno. It was from his 3d origami tutoring video that we started to develop a love for folding and doing origami together. From there we piloted three original pieces: Captain America, a dragon, and Spiderman.

A few months later, we attempted to try and sell a couple pieces. It was a big hit as we sold three pieces right after one month of learning how to fold them. However, that’s also where we learned some “best practices” when it came to doing the business side of things.

What problem(s) did we solve for our clients that sets us apart from others?
Your question, “What problem(s) did we solve for our clients that I believe sets us apart from others?” is an interesting one since we did not set out initially to “solve” any problem. We were artists that loved modular origami and thought it would be great to share that art with others. But what we soon realized was that there were many people that wished they either had the time to learn origami or wanted to do origami, but did not have the skills to do it.

So, in essence, it resolved a problem where there were many that wanted unique modular origami designs, but did not have the skills to do it. We could provide some of those unique, custom made pieces. On another end, we resolved another issue for customers who wanted unique gifts like mascots and other smaller designs that are not common in stores.

What are we most proud of and want clients to know about our brand?
Our 3d origami designs are complex and do not emulate store bought companies like Funko Pop, Hasbro-Legends, etc. We also do designs that you will not find in any other place, making our designs the most unique for any idea they have. Our customers can expect the following core values.

What is the core values of our creative process?
EXCELLENCE: Everything must stick — First rule, make sure every single piece is glued on. This was a huge lesson we needed to learn. The pieces don’t exactly stick well together without glue. If even one piece of origami is left loose then it can break at the weakest link.

IMAGINATION: Uniqueness in Creativity — Second rule, make sure original ideas and artwork is sketched out and set to potential buyers. What my mind perceives as beautiful art may not be something seen as acceptable by each individual buyer. Each piece must go through copious amounts of conversation back and forth to make sure the creativity matches what the buyer is imagining.

DURABILITY: Strength in numbers — Third rule, many of our pieces are folded with intentionality and put together to sustain drops and injury. Additionally, we make sure when shipping these pieces there is cushion and protection for the artwork. It was easy to presume that sticking it in a box would be adequate protection. We learned the hard way. It was not adequate to ship and give these pieces without protecting the artwork from the elements (such as rain or box stacking). We learned to add cushions and protection to each individual artwork we mail out.

It is from these three rules, not limited to them, that kind of grew the important core values this small business needed.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative stems from the smiling faces I receive for each design. We have KoOragami stories that I feature every quarter that not only feature the pieces we’ve made, but it features those who have received the pieces.

These pieces, we hope and pray can articulate the creativity and wonder God has given us and allow us a platform not only to share art, but to share the love of Christ – in the Gospel – through our art.

In essence, that like the origami designs, every human is wonderfully made. However, sin corrupts the “wonderfully made” human and has distanced us from the love of God. And like garbage paper that has no value, God has given each of us value. The origami designs represent a “life once lost” separated from the love of God. I, as a designer, represent what Jesus has done for us. By Him coming down to earth, living amongst men, and then dying on behalf of humans and for their sin, gave us a hope undeserved. When we receive His gift and when others receive the gift of these origami pieces, they can see the value of what God did for us. He gave us His one and only Son – Jesus.

When this story is known and heard, not only does the art design have value and purpose, those that own these designs, know that they are deeply loved by a Savior and God that loves them.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There has been many dry seasons where pieces were not being sold. Also, the old adage, “out of sight, out of mind” is true in the art world.

When others do not see or hear of what designs we put out, it gets discouraging.

We do not have a huge social media presence, but what we have is consistent plodding and working through the hard times knowing that for a season it will be difficult, but if you persist in it, you will see how the hope of pursuing a passion for a long time. Then a day of work, doesn’t even feel like work at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.instagram.com/KoOragami
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KoOragami
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoOragami

Image Credits
Image credits goes to me, Phillip Koo