Floating Compass is a water skater-like paper construction designed for Takeo Paper Show 2004 entitled Haptic. Inspired by insects that glide on water by its long and slender legs , Shunji Yamanaka created a compass that floats on water using surface tension to remain afloat by its four legs. The simple and elegant construction is built by bending and folding a planar paper cutout coated with the latest water-repellent used in the telecommunications industry. The Floating Compass responds to the Earth's magnetic field through a magnetized needle embedded at its center, rotating smoothly to point northward. This compass has been released both in Japan and internationally.

MATERIAL: Paper, Steel
DIMENSION: 130 x 130 x 10mm
PROJECT STARTED: February 2004 / COMPLETED: April 2004
DESIGNER: Shunji Yamanaka
CLIENT: Takeo CO., LTD.