Zac Buehner designs collapsible paper tree collection for Lovepop
Lovepop presents the Poet Tree, a collection of four foldables paper sculptures Designed by Zac Buehner that extends the company’s slice-shaped kirigami techniques beyond greeting cards to freestanding sculptural objects. Developed by Buehner as part of Lovepop’s Da Nang innovation team in Vietnam, the series transforms flat sheets of paper into large-scale tree forms supported by geometric paper pedestals.
Each sculpture unfolds through a single movement, transitioning from a completely flat form to a three-dimensional structure. The project applies Lovepop’s established kirigami system on a significantly larger scale, requiring a redesign of the internal geometry in order to support independent stability. Individual branches and leaves are drawn and placed separately, creating more irregular and natural tree silhouettes rather than repetitive modular forms.
Poet Tree transforms flat paper into stand-alone sculptures | all images courtesy of Lovepop unless otherwise stated
Collapsible paper trees rise from plinth-like geometric plinths
THE collectiondeveloped by designer Zac Buehner, consists of four different types of trees, each associated with different visual and symbolic references. Japanese maple appears in deep red tones associated with longevity and prosperity, while weeping willow uses softer green surfaces associated with durability. A yellow ginkgo biloba refers to peace and hope, and a pink cherry blossom reflects ideas of transience and seasonal change.
Each tree is elevated by a folding cube-like pedestal that references the form of a museum plinth. The geometric base creates a contrast to the organic branching structures above, while visually elevating the paper object into a sculptural display. Inscribed on the plinth are the opening lines of Joyce Kilmer’s 1913 poem Trees: “I think I shall never see / A poem as lovely as a tree.”
The inclusion of the poem links the collection to wider reflections on nature, observation and representation. Rather than functioning solely as decorative objects, paper sculptures introduce literary and symbolic references through material construction and form.
Pink cherry blossom branches reflect permanence and seasonal change
The Poet Tree series combines paper folding with collectible design
Poet Tree came from a prompting by Lovepop co-founder John Wise to develop a line of products that could work more directly within the context of art and collectible design. Buehner approached the series as sculpture from the start, emphasizing appearance, structure and spatial presence alongside the folding mechanics traditionally associated with paper engineering.
Made entirely of paper using slice-shaped kirigami techniques, the sculptures retain the functionality of the folding Lovepop while introducing larger dimensions and greater structural complexity. Through the combination of mechanical geometry, layered paper construction and botanical imagery, Poet Tree places pop-up paper design into the realm of collectible sculptural objects.
the embossed poetry is incorporated directly into the paper pedestal
a red Japanese maple symbolizes longevity and prosperity
sculptures fold completely flat when closed
The soft green paper defines the structure of the weeping willow
individual sheets of paper create irregular natural silhouettes
yellow ginkgo biloba refers to peace and resilience
layered cuts and folds create depth and shadow | image from video from @thunguyen28746courtesy of Zac Buehner
project information:
name: Lovepop Poet Trees
designer: Zac Buehner | @zfbuehner
brand: Lovepop | @lovepop
designboom received this project from us DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
