Þykjó nominated to the Icelandic Design Awards 2021

The design project Þykjó by designers Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir, Ninna Þórarinsdóttir, Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir and Erla Ólafsdóttir isnominated to the Icelandic Design Awards 2021. There are five nominations to the Icelandic Design Awards 2021 and the award ceremony will take place on October 29th. Stay tuned.

From the jury:
Þykjó is a design project by a multidisciplinary team of designers that pool their various expertise within textile-, toy- and experience design. Their idea is centered around creating an environment, a playground space and an experience that stimulates children's imagination and creativity in free play. 

In all aspects, the aim of Þykjó is to utilize surplus material and local expertise and machinery. The project combines a successful integration of space, design and perception and a multidisciplinary collaboration between creative minds and experts – both in craftsmanship and science. A multilayered approach that is developed through conversations with children. It is meant to be an environment that is playful for the senses and is carried out on a scale that children can easily relate to.  

ÞYKJÓ is an interdisciplinary design project for children and their families in the field of textile, toy and experience design. ÞYKJÓ is a group of designers with diverse backgrounds who share different expertise in their teamwork. ÞYKJÓ is an architect, fashion designer and tailor, set and costume designer. The group also works closely with artists, scientists and last but not least - with children.

In their product development and production process, the designers strive to utilize national expertise and equipment from a variety of industries; ranging from braiding, to net and brush making. All of this aims to maintain local production, utilize the raw materials that are generated and maintain know-how.

Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir is the founder and art director of ÞYKJÓ. She has a diverse background in design, programming and project management. Sigríður Sunna graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2012 with a BA Theater Practice, but before that she had completed a degree in General Literature from the University of Iceland and the University of Karlová in Prague.

Ninna Þórarinsdóttir is a children's cultural designer who specializes in illustration and toy design. Ninna graduated with a BA Honors in Design from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2006 and then in 2015 with an MA in Children's Cultural Design from HDK in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir is a fashion designer and tailor. Sigurbjörg studied fashion design and tailoring at the London Collage of Fashion, but before that she finished a degree from Tækniskólinn in Reykjavík. She has m.a. worked on costumes for the Royal Opera House in London, the Icelandic Opera and the National Theater.

Erla Ólafsdóttir is an architect. She graduated with an MA in architecture from Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademis Skoler for Arkitektur, Design og Konservering in Copenhagen in 2016. Erla has since worked independently as well as working for various design studios. 

The Icelandic Design Award honours the best Icelandic design and architecture annually. The importance of design in our 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. 

Celebrating achievement and excellence, the Icelandic Design Award is given to a designer, a team, a studio or an architect in recognition of an outstanding new work, object, project or collection. The award is given to a recent project that demonstrates creative thinking, resourceful solutions, thorough presentation and professional methodology throughout the design process. Best investment in design recognises successful investment in design or architecture in the past year. It is awarded over to a company that has incorporated design in the core of its operations to create value and increase competitiveness. 

Below you can read about the other five nominations to the Icelandic Design Awards 2021. The award ceremony will take place on October 29th. Stay tuned. 

The Icelandic Design Award is established by Iceland Design and Architecture in collaboration with the Iceland University of the Arts, the Museum of Design and Applied Art, Promote Iceland, Landsvirkjun and SI - the Federation of Icelandic Industries.