Expansion Theory

 This is an intermediate origami tessellation that I did last week. It's a simple design that creates an interesting pattern. Not every tessellation has to be intricate or complicated in order to be visually pleasing. In fact, sometimes the less complex models yield some very intriguing results. 

This one is just an idea I wanted to do that centered around a very specific starting point. Three rhombuses tucked into a small triangle. I also wanted to be able to repeat that molecule as much as possible. 

I wound up using a series of open hexagons and large triangles There are also some trapezoids, but far less of them. 

It's a straight up tuck tessellation. No twists. No flagstone style collapse folds. Every shapes just tucks neatly into the others. 

What I find particularly appealing about this kind of origami tessellation is that it's very easy to conceptualize. It's a great starting point for creating your own designs. Everything fits together quite neatly. You can just imagine a few connected shapes and then follow the geometry to see where else it takes you. 

These kinds of tessellations don't really require a crease pattern in order for someone else to figure them out. Everything is right there in plain sight.