methodcutpaper

Methodcutpaper is a term used in some education and prototyping communities to describe a paper-based technique for representing and communicating a method, workflow, or experimental procedure through cut and arranged paper components. The approach emphasizes visualizing steps as discrete elements cut from paper cards or sheets, which can be rearranged to reflect sequence, branching, and dependencies. The name combines method and cut paper to reflect its dual aim of methodical organization and tangible manipulation.

Origin and context: The concept emerged in informal workshops and design thinking conversations in the 2010s, drawing on card-based prototyping and cut-paper arts. It has been used in maker spaces, classroom demonstrations, and collaborative design sessions to help diverse learners articulate procedures and processes without requiring specialized software or tooling.

Methodology: Practitioners typically use simple materials such as colored paper, scissors, glue or magnets, and a flat board or wall space. They create cards representing individual steps, decisions, inputs, and outputs, then arrange them in sequence to map a procedure. Colors can denote roles, risk levels, or data types, while layers or stacked cards can depict sub-processes or conditional paths. The setup is often dynamic, allowing participants to rearrange steps to test alternative methods or to reveal latent dependencies.

Applications and limitations: Methodcutpaper is employed to visualize algorithms, experimental protocols, service workflows, and classroom demonstrations. It supports hands-on learning, collaboration, and accessible communication of complex procedures. Limitations include reduced scalability for highly intricate processes, potential inconsistency across sessions, and the physical fragility and time required to update large maps. Related topics include card-based prototyping, workflow visualization, and paper prototyping.