The honorary award of the Icelandic Design Award 2024 goes to Gísli B. Björnsson
Gísli Baldvin Björnsson has been selected for the Honorary Award of the Icelandic Design Awards 2024 for his contribution to graphic design.
From the jury:
Over the last decades, Gísli B. has established himself as one of the most influential graphic designers in Iceland, not only because of his many well-known works, but also because of his contribution to the field. Gísli taught commercial art and graphic design for 50 years, first at The Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and later at the Iceland University of the Arts. In 1962, Gísli established the Department of Commercial Art at the college and was head of the department for 21 years. In 1973-75, he was the college dean. Through teaching, Gísli has shared his knowledge with generations of graphic designers and, through that, contributed significantly to the field as a whole.
Gísli´s work is diverse, but logo design is the category that most identify him with. A logo is a small visual intended for great things. Among his best-known works are the logos of the national television, on which he partnered with Hilmar Sigurðsson, The Icelandic Federation of Labor Art Gallery, The Norden Association, SÍBS, Hótel Holt, The Icelandic Heart Association, Icelandic Church Aid, BHM, Iceland Review, Múlalundur, Agricultural University of Iceland, and the list goes on. These logos fit their purpose well, and many are still in use.
In addition, Gísli has safeguarded the history of logos in Iceland, providing an overview of his own logos and other designers' development of the field.
This period has entailed great changes in the field of print technology, digitalization, and marketing studies, but Gísli’s core values stand the test of time. The characteristics of Gísli’s life’s work are his precision and clear aesthetic vision; his constructive criticism, not least of his own work; his drawing skills; and his deep knowledge of his field and the skill to convey it.
Gísli was born in 1938. He was endowed with an interest in the arts from birth and encouraged throughout childhood. His grandfather was Baldvin Björnsson (1879-1945), a goldsmith and visual artist; and his uncle was Björn Th. Björnsson (1922 - 2007), art historian. Both men had a great impact on Gísli growing up.
At seventeen, Gísli started studying applied visual arts at The Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts. His entrepreneurial nature flourished quickly in this environment, and the courses seemed tailored to his talents. A year later, he pursued further education at Staatiche Akademie der Bildnede Kunster in Stuttgart. Since his return home after finishing his studies in 1961, he has worked vigorously to advance his field. In the same year, he founded the advertising agency Auglýsingastofan hf., which he ran until 1965, then founding his second agency, GBB, which he ran until 1989.
Gísli leaves a great legacy which is now being documented in the Museum of Design and Applied Art where his work will undoubtedly inspire future generations.
The award ceremony took place for the 11th time on November 7th in Gróska, in the presence of a large crowd who celebrated outstanding design.
Honorary award is a recognition given to a person who has achieved exceptional success in their work, has been very influential in their professional field, or has delivered outstanding lifetime work in the field of design and architecture in Iceland.
The Icelandic Design Award honours the best Icelandic design and architecture annually. The importance of design in society, culture and business has been growing steadily, and it is therefore vital to increase the understanding of good design and highlight the value of quality.
The Icelandic Design Award is established by Iceland Design and Architecture in collaboration with theIceland University of the Arts, the Museum of Design and Applied Art, Promote Iceland, The Housing and Construction Authorities of Iceland, SI - the Federation of Icelandic Industries, The University of Iceland Science Parkand Gróska.
