Photo : Paris-Ateliers
Pop-Up Workshop
During this workshop, participants will learn to design and create various tab and pivot mechanisms to bring paper elements to life in an animated book.
Paris-Ateliers / ERARD (Paris 12th)
About
They will experiment with different animation possibilities using tabs that are pulled or pushed to slide an element, make an image appear or disappear, move a character, animate a body part, or transform an illustration by sliding or overlapping several elements. They will also study pivot mechanisms, which allow one or more elements to rotate around an axis.
Through various cutting, folding, and assembly exercises, they will explore the possibilities offered by these mechanisms to create animations and image transformations.
At the end of the workshop, everyone will design and create a page for an animated book incorporating one or more of the studied systems, developing personal research around movement and narrative.
Pedagogical methods:
- Visual aids and presentation of examples of animated books
- Demonstrations of the different mechanisms by the instructor, followed by practice sessions for participants
- Creation of research models to understand and experiment with the main mechanics
- Design and movement exercises with paper elements
Pedagogical schedule:
Day 1 & 2: Introduction
Study and creation of various mechanisms for transforming a pulling or pushing motion into the movement of a paper element:
- Simple tabs for vertical or horizontal displacement
- Slide systems to guide the movement of a piece
- Mechanisms to make an element appear or disappear
- Superposition and sliding systems to transform an image or gradually reveal a setting
- Mechanisms combining different movements
- Animation mechanisms via the manipulation of flaps or moving parts.
Day 3: Introduction to pivot systems
Study of the principles of rotation around an axis and the different ways to attach a moving part to the page.
- Simple pivots allowing a piece to rotate around an axis
- Association of several pivots to move different parts of the body or illustration
- Association of several pivots or combinations of pivots and tabs to create more complex animations.
Day 4: Projects
Designing a pop-up page with one or more white research models before creating the final color page.
Sharing and discussion about the pop-ups created during the workshop
Educational resources:
Pop-up books brought by the instructor as references
Instructor: Héloïse Bossard
Capacity: 10 people
Price: €360 (Paris Ateliers registrants receive a 10% discount on workshop prices).
Professional Training Price: €960 incl. tax
Dates: from February 8 to 11, 2027
Hours: from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm
Our take on this event
Forget digital devices and dive into the tactile wonders of paper engineering at this hands-on workshop. You will master the secrets behind pull-tabs, sliding elements, and rotating pivots to bring your own drawings to life on the page. Unleash your inner creator and build a piece of art that actually moves right before your eyes.
Discover the intricate craft of movable books at the Pop-Up Workshop hosted by Paris-Ateliers in the 12th arrondissement. Led by Héloïse Bossard, this four-day practical course allows individuals aged 16 and up to master paper engineering. You will learn to manipulate traction mechanisms, sliding components, and pivot systems to bring illustrations to life. The workshop is priced at 360€, with a 10% discount available for current Paris-Ateliers members. Participants will develop their own unique animated page, combining technical precision with creative storytelling in an intimate setting limited to 10 people.
Held at 30 rue Erard, this workshop runs from February 8 to February 11, 2027. Sessions take place from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 each day. Under the expert guidance of Héloïse Bossard, you will explore the mechanics behind paper animation through demonstrations and hands-on practice, using provided reference pop-up books as inspiration.
Day one and two focus on traction-based movements, including simple pull-tabs, sliding tracks, and layered elements that transform scenes. On the third day, the curriculum shifts to pivot systems, teaching you how to fix rotating parts to pages to create more complex interactions. The final day is reserved for the design and creation of a finished pop-up page, followed by a collaborative discussion on the results.
The workshop fee is 360€, or 960€ including taxes for professional training. Current Paris-Ateliers members receive a 10% discount. With a capacity limited to 10 participants, everyone receives dedicated attention while developing their research prototypes and final full-color projects.
