The Red Dot Best of the Best Product

Cleverly folded kayak: “The Lake” by Oru Kayak

Kayaking is one of the oldest and most fascinating ways of travelling across water, which today is not only a popular sport but also a popular leisure activity. 

The Lake, a foldable kayak from Oru Kayak, reinterprets this tradition and combines it in an innovative way with the art of origami. The kayak was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2023 for its simple functionality and successful handling of the complexity of traditional craftsmanship and modern design. 

Origin and inspiration

Originally developed by the Inuit and other Arctic cultures, kayaks have always served as a light and manoeuvrable means of transport. The first models consisted of a wooden or whalebone frame covered with animal skins and were perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of the polar regions. Over the centuries, the kayak has evolved steadily – from a tool for survival to a symbol of leisure, sport and innovation.

Similar to the kayak, origami – the centuries-old art of paper folding – also has its origins in traditional cultures. Originally from Japan, origami not only symbolises creativity and patience, but also the art of creating something complex from simple materials.

Origami aesthetics meet robust functionality

Despite being inspired by the art of paper folding, The Lake combines the delicate aesthetics of Origami with a durable and resilient material designed for use in the great outdoors. It consists of a single, high-strength polypropylene sheet that can be unfolded from a compact transport form to a fully functional kayak in just a few minutes. Weighing only about 8 kilograms and with an intuitive folding mechanism, it sets new standards in terms of mobility and user-friendliness. This makes kayaking more accessible to hobby kayakers by making it easier to overcome the biggest hurdles, namely getting the kayak into the water and store it well later. 

Red Dot: Best of the Best 2023

The kayak impressed the Red Dot Jury with its special construction and easy handling and was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2023: “The Oru Kayak Lake dispenses with additional packaging. You can simply unfold it and start using it right away. This product’s ease of handling and overall concept are what make it so impressive. The simplicity of this kayak is the result of the effective management of complexity. The beauty of this product lies in the idea of transforming a thin piece of paper into a three-dimensional boat simply by folding it. Like origami creations, the effect is surprising,” said the jury.

The kayak is particularly impressive for its clear design language, seamless functionality and ecological sustainability. It offers a space-saving solution and also shows how traditional techniques such as origami can help solve modern challenges creatively.