Case Study: Paper Koi Lantern – a DIY Kit
- Naveed Nawal
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
Hand-crafted Beauty | Customisable Light | Artistic DIY Experience | Asian-Inspired Design | Beautiful Illumination
THE BACKGROUND
Case Study: Paper Koi Lantern – a DIY Kit
In a world where mass-produced home decor fills every shelf, the Paper Koi Lantern seeks to rekindle a connection: with craftsmanship, with artistry, and with light itself. Led by artist Yuumei, this project hearkens to calming rituals, koi symbolism, and gentle ambience.
Yuumei is a digital artist and designer best known for the cyberpunk webcomic Fisheye Placebo and a wide range of artworks that blend the magical with the surreal. Their portfolio includes both paintings and product designs, such as the original Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones and now the Paper Koi Lantern. For Yuumei, art is more than a career - it is a lifelong passion that gives meaning to each day.
The inspiration for the Paper Koi Lantern comes from a childhood fascination with koi, admired for their grace and elegance. Determined to capture that sense of wonder, Yuumei worked on the lantern for six years. After countless prototypes and long nights of design and assembly, the final creation emerged: not just a lantern shaped like a koi, but one that could be posed to mimic the lifelike movements of a fish gliding through water.
The result is a DIY kit that allows people to construct their own koi lanterns: from folding to assembling, decorating, and finally illuminating them. It’s meant for lovers of art, makers, and anyone who wants something unique in their space; not just a lamp, but a personal expression.
OUR APPROACH
Yuumei approached this project not simply as a product, but as an experience. Rather than selling a finished lamp, they give the tools and the canvas - materials, instructions, and the design flexibility - for the maker to bring it to life themselves. The aim is to balance ease, elegance, and personal artistry.
Designing the Paper Koi Lantern was apparently the fun part, but perfecting it took years of trial and error. After settling on the graceful koi shape, the real challenge was in materials and lighting. If the paper was too thin, the lantern became fragile and easily damaged. If too thick, the light could not pass through. Countless prototypes, adjustments, and redesigns were needed to strike the delicate balance between durability and illumination.
Even after finding the right balance, Yuumei continued to refine every detail. The paper had to shimmer like koi scales yet hold up to repeated handling. The cuts had to be intricate enough to capture flowing fins, but simple enough that makers could assemble them with ease. Testing paper types, LEDs, and assembly methods over many years led to the final design: a lantern that looks stunning both day and night, and is sturdy enough to last. The goal was never just to make a koi-shaped lantern, but one that truly moves and feels alive; a piece of art that carries both elegance and magic.
The Paper Koi Lantern DIY kit is built around these design elements:
Precision laser-cut pieces: Each kit comes with all the paper parts pre-cut, using laser cutting technology that captures intricate details traditional die-cutting cannot
Premium Italian paper: Made from 285 GSM metallic cardstock by Gruppo Cordenons (founded in 1630), the paper is lightweight, acid-free, archival, sturdy, and shimmers like real koi scales, letting light through beautifully while retaining its shape
Customisable assembly: Tutorials guide makers through building and lighting their koi, with tips for setting them on tables, swimming up walls, or hanging from the ceiling
Multiple colours & lighting options: Eight metallic colours can be mixed and matched with colour-changing LEDs for endless combinations. Custom RGB LED strips, with 2m cables and USB power, add extra magic with adjustable colours, brightness, and modes
Fin and ornament variations: Choose between Classic Koi with traditional short fins or Butterfly Koi with long, flowing fins. Each kit includes four pre-cut head ornaments (Moon, Sun, Star, etc.) with the option to mix, match, or customise with metallic markers or be creative with an entirely new design instead - such finishing touches ensure each finished lamp is one-of-a-kind
Flexible lighting integration: While the koi can be admired unlit, lights transform them into glowing works of art. Makers can use any low-powered LED at home, or add the dedicated RGB strip that diffuses softly, creating an ambient glow
Artistic aesthetic: Koi fish shapes, water motifs, design inspired by East Asian art, giving it beauty as well as function, with an engineering design that ensures interlocking and no glue needed
TOTAL BACKERS:
7,084
AMOUNT RAISED:
US$1,139,618 / US$35,000 goal
PERCENT OF GOAL:
3256%
THE RESULT
This case exemplifies how a more niche field can utilise Kickstarter to help fund its project. It goes to show that even the most unexpected crafts and products can be appreciated by backers from around the world. Yuumei Arts leveraged an array of images, videos, and GIFs to showcase the unique qualities of their products, capturing the attention of backers worldwide.
Looking at the comments, however, we can also learn a crucial lesson in communication between the campaigners and the backers, or rather lack thereof in this campaign - many backers experienced delays or never received their promised rewards or purchased products, leading to frustration even years after the successful launch. Among those who did receive their rewards, some successfully recreated the Koi fish, while others lamented at the difficulty of reproducing the paper lanterns. Some also commented on the struggle in finding the promised tutorial videos online. These experiences underscore the importance of transparent and ongoing communication with backers alongside compelling campaign visuals.
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