Iceland design scene showcased in ten highlights

This year’s DesignMarch in Iceland featured over 100 exhibitions showcasing the country’s eclectic creative scene, with a focus on experimentation and community space and responsible production.

Helga Ólafsdóttir, DesignMarch director, noted that the event demonstrated the international impact of Iceland’s design scene despite being a small community.

The event brought together creatives across architecture, design, and fashion, with many exhibitions highlighting the use of local and recycled materials.

One of the standout exhibits was a lampshade made from discarded skate skin, designed by Kári Jóhannsson, which reframed the overlooked waste material as an object of value and distinction.

Erla Lind Guðmundsdóttir presented a springless mattress made from Icelandic sheep’s wool, exploring how the age-old material could be reinvigorated with new manufacturing processes, allowing for more custom design.

Icelandic-Angolan designer Logi Pedro Stefásson presented a staged interior filled with twenty objects he designed and fabricated, challenging the trend of modern homes mirroring showrooms and social media feeds.

The exhibition Inherited Matter – A Finite Resource was a moving tribute to the life of late craftsman Ólafur Andrés Guðmundsson, featuring a floor installation using everything left behind in his garage.

According to Hrefna Sigurðardóttir, the exhibition invited broader reflections on the limits of Earth’s resources, and the importance of slowing down and repairing things instead of discarding them. They emphasized the need for responsible production.

Architecture fans were catered to with numerous building tours, including the experimental Frakkastígur housing block, which focuses on minimising carbon footprint through the use of recycled and local building materials.

Designer Arnhildur Pálmadóttir noted that the building is a critique of Icelandic construction, which has extremely high average CO2 emissions due to the use of concrete. The team behind the project aimed to create a more sustainable alternative.

The exhibition Hæ/Hi was a collaboration between Icelandic and Seattle design studios, featuring products designed for the bedroom, including softly-glowing lights and a whimsical diffuser. It showcased the creativity of the designers involved.

Designing with waste was a dominant trend at DesignMarch, with many exhibitions featuring products made from recycled materials, such as Timber Dyed by Alice Sowa, which focused on dying waste wood with natural dyes made from food waste. This approach highlighted the potential for innovation in waste reduction.

The Museum of Design and Applied Art held an exhibition showcasing its education programme dedicated to introducing children to design, featuring creations such as a cardboard house with a rooftop bath and paper dolls used to create elaborate fashion designs. The museum’s programme aimed to inspire the next generation of designers.

Designer Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir noted that introducing children to design at an early age helps them appreciate the thought and decisions behind everyday objects, and the impact it has on their quality of life and the future of the planet. She emphasized the importance of early education in design.

Icelandic studio Orar presented a sculptural furniture collection that emulates flowing water, featuring handmade pieces such as a pair of chairs and suspended lights. The studio’s collection demonstrated the beauty of natural inspiration in design.

Designer Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir offered a masterclass in minimalism with her Core Collection, featuring objects that sit between functional design and architectural studies in miniature. Her collection showcased the elegance of simplicity.

The adaptive reuse project Elliðaárstöð was another architectural highlight, reimagining a closed-off industrial site power plant as an educational exhibition, public space, and restaurant. The project’s lead architect, Magnea Guðmundsdóttir, presented the project at DesignTalks, a day-long conference that kicked off the event.

These exhibitions showcased the creativity and innovation of Iceland’s design scene, highlighting the importance of experimentation, responsible production, and collaboration. The event demonstrated the country’s commitment to sustainable design and community-driven initiatives.