It starts with a vision. Most of my designs are animal and tend towards whimsical and/or fantastical. I design with enough detail to give a piece character and allow it to tell a story. Sometimes I ponder a design for months before I even start folding. I design according to actual anatomy, so that once I've got a bird, for example, it can be shaped to do different things -- stand straight, bend over, fold or spread its wings, tilt its head, etc. With dogs, I can adapt different features -- long noses, short noses, brachycephalic faces, folded ears, ears up, big ears, little ears, long legs, short legs, full tails, thin tails, males, females -- and different poses -- standing, sitting, lying down, play bows, etc. The initial design is considerably more detailed and complicated, but it yields more flexibility and options in the long run. (More nerdy details about my design process in the The Origami Dog Blog)
Most of my pieces are folded from a material that looks like paper and folds like paper, but is actually an archival-grade water-resistant, tear-resistant material called polyethylene. It's synthetic paper, made in America, and makes my art possible.
I spend as much time wiring, gluing, shaping, and sculpting as I spend folding. Each piece, whether two legged or four legged, is balanced and stable, display-ready, and resilient for shipping and handling before it leaves my studio.
I have pieces installed outdoors, in the sun, wind, and rain, testing the limits of my chosen materials and designs. Full-time Hawaiian sunshine will take a toll on color and materials after a while (years). Other than exposure to extreme conditions, my pieces should remain absolutely pristine, color-fast, and preserved year after year after year. Light dusting with a soft brush or water-dampened cloth is all the maintenance needed. It is best to avoid oil-based cleaners. And polyethylene does have a melting temperature around 200°F so maintain a safe distance from extreme heat and fire. My origami art is at least as resilient as most other art out there and more so than many.