Floating compass is a water skater-like paper construction designed for Takeo Paper Show 2004 entitled Haptic. Inspired by the skinny insects that glide on water, Shunji Yamanaka created a compass that floats on water using surface tension to remain afloat. The simple and elegant construction is built by bending and folding a planar paper cutout coated with the latest water-repellent used in the telecommunications industry. The magnetized rod enables external mobilization eliminating the need to add heavy actuators. The compasses have appeared in numerous exhibitions in and out of Japan.
MATERIALS: Paper, Steel / DIMENSIONS: 130x130x10mm / DESIGN: Shunji Yamanaka / PROJECT STARTED: February 2004 / COMPLETED: April 2004 / CLIENT: Takeo Company Limited