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The Meaningful Patterns Of Studio KE&PB: Icelandic Designers Present Their New Language
After a fast-paced summer at the Grapevine, I decided to take an overdue summer vacation in October. While packing my bags for the Netherlands, I perused the programme for Eindhoven’s Dutch Design Week, which I was planning to spend a few days…
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Fuzzy Logic: Stella Ögmundsdóttir Is Turning Secondhand Yarn Into Statement Pieces
A good woollen sweater never goes out of fashion. As anyone shivering through a chilly — or, more often than not, downright freezing — summer night in Iceland knows, it’s handy all year round. For decades, that sweater meant the classic lopapeysa:…
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Fun At The Table: Hvíslustell Gives Dinnerware A Playful Spin
Most of us grew up with grandparents who owned a special set of plates or dinnerware that sat untouched in a cupboard, occasionally dusted off — if we were lucky — for Christmas. My parents took it even further: I’m pretty sure…
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A Look Back at DesignMarch 2023
May 3 to 7 was a busy time for design lovers from all over Iceland as well as abroad. The annual design festival DesignMarch, despite being hosted in May, treated the attendees to an impressive array of events, exhibitions, performances and design…
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What Now? DesignTalks 2023 Addresses Global Issues
In the face of the challenges the world is currently facing — from wars to the repercussions of the pandemic and the climate emergency, the role of design and architecture in societal and global change has never been more important. DesignTalks 2023,…
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DesignMarch Kicks Off Today
DesignMarch, a week-long celebration of all things design and innovation, has finally arrived. Despite the confusion with Icelandic calendars — it was summer just a week ago, but now we’re back to March — the festival has a plethora of events that…
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Celebrating Imagination: DesignMarch Is Back In Full Swing
Iceland’s largest design festival, DesignMarch, is about to return for its 14th year running—in May. Although the pandemic forced it to bend to the numerous restrictions over the past two years, it did not break, and excitement is at an all time…
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The Reykjavík Grapevine Design Awards 2020
Times like these call for creative thinking and the ability to adapt—two qualities arguably best found in the design community. From leading the way in innovation of sustainable materials, to radically rethinking household items, the winners of this year’s design awards have…
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Genki Instrument’s ‘Wave’ Ring Wins Icelandic Design Prize
Genki Instrument’s ‘Wave’ ring officially won the Icelandic Design Prize at the 2019 Iceland Design Awards. Created by Ólafur Bjarki Bogason, Daníel Grétarsson, Jón Helgi Hólmgeirsson, and Haraldur Hugosson, the ring is a wearable MIDI controller that allows artists to control sounds…
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Finding The Heartbeat: Guðfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir On Design & Environment
Sitting on a low wooden panel that runs along half the perimeter of Kjarvalsstaðir’s Idea Lab, I draw my legs inward and I look around me, my eyes wandering over the aquamarine décor, reminiscent of arabesque tiles. Designer Guðfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir lounges…
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From Fabric To Fruition: The Structural Designs Of ‘Another Creation’
Fashion designer Ýr Þrastardóttir quickly made a name for herself in the Icelandic fashion scene with her first collection in 2015. Her label, Another Creation, is now known as one synonymous with structural tailoring, high-end fabric, and innovative multifunctional pieces. Her newest…
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Design Diplomacy Sparks Dialogue Between Artists
While DesignMarch is primarily a celebration of the best of Icelandic Design, the program is anything but insular. It’s quite the opposite really, and this particular iteration of the annual event presents a plethora of international collaborations. From the 1+1+1 collective—which brings…
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More Than Meets The Ear: Mengi Expands To Object Design
MENGI is more than a music venue. A tucked away space on Óðinsgata, it has, since opening its doors in 2013, become a cultural centre of sorts, hosting exhibitions, experimental multimedia collaborations, and all sorts of creative events, alongside a weekly concert…
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The Pleasure Of Craftsmanship: Ten Years Of Kronkron Shoes
For the past ten years, Hugrún Árnadóttir and Magni Þorsteinsson have been producing some of the most creative shoes ever made in Iceland. Their shoes are so distinctive that even the fashion illiterate can recognise one of their designs on sight. Through…
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Life Behind Bars: How Design Can Reach Out To Prisoners
There aren’t that many people in the Litla Hraun prison located in Eyrarbakki, on the South coast of Iceland—less than a 100. Theirs is a tedious life: if there is something to do this month, there might not be in two weeks…
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Eggshibition: A Celebration Of Eggs And Their Historic Symbolism
“I’ve always thought of it as being normcore, even tacky, but the more I thought about it the more I appreciated its symbolic charge.” The voice of Icelandic artist Rán Flygenring is loud and clear through the phone as she explains the…
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Line The Nest: Reykjavík Homeware Shops To Cosy Up Your Place
When there’s a fierce storm rattling the windows and the ten-minute walk to your favourite bar feels like a Frodo-esque mission, it’s sometimes nice to just bail on the world, close the curtains, turn up the radiators, and fire up Netflix. It’s…
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LP Archaeology: Iceland’s Record Sleeve History On Display At Hönnunarsafn
Hönnunarsafn—The Museum of Icelandic Design—is a tucked away place, in the sprawling Reykjavík suburb of Garðabær. Boxed in by a surrounding retail park, it isn’t easy to stumble across, but inside its pristine galleries lies an intriguing exhibition of Icelandic album art,…
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Jónsi From Sigur Rós & Family Open Icelandic Art & Design Space
Today, Friday December 15, musician Jónsi from the world-renowned band Sigur Rós wil open up an inventive and exciting design store with his family, right in the heart of Reykjavík. The store, which is name Fischer, will, however, be more than just…
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New Rescue Squad Uniform Design Causes Controversy
The design of a new uniform for Icelandic rescue workers (ICE-SAR) has not been universally well received, despite being three years in the making. Vísir reports that the new uniform features bright yellow shoulders, but otherwise the classic red-and-blue theme has been…
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Winner Of Grapevine’s Best Design Shop Kraum Declares Bankruptcy
The design store Kraum, which has won the Best shop to pick up local design award in the Grapevine’s Best of Reykjavík issue five times over the past six years has declared bankruptcy, reports MBL. The store was founded in 2007 and…
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IKEA Streetwear With Bags Of Style
When we think hip hop, we think Kendrick Lamar, Air Jordans and the Stocksund faux leather sofa from IKEA. That is why we were ecstatic when we heard about the newest line from Icelandic hip-hop fashion pioneers INKLAW—made out of the infamous blue IKEA…
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ESCANDALO: Outfit Plagiarised For Eurovision
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, EUROVISION SEASON! Unfortunately, Iceland’s National Broadcaster, RÚV, is in some hot water after dressing the hostess for the Icelandic Eurovision Finals in a jumpsuit that looks suspiciously similar to one made by Balmain (pictured…