Thank you to junior correspondent Bryant Perez for attending this event at A/D/O, a creative space in Greenpoint that has partnered with WHSAD on past projects.
Last Saturday, A/D/O, in Greenpoint, held an event regarding Icelandic Design. This event consisted of “The Iceland Design Centre” coming over to “The States” and introducing their design and ideas such as using design to make the world a better place.
This event began with the speaker, Halla Helgadóttir, Managing Director of the Iceland Design Centre, emphasizing how Iceland is a spacious place full of harsh weather with a small population of 350,000 people.
The speaker continued by talking about the economic crisis that Iceland had 10 years ago, which slowed down all types of design. However, after the recovery, the country decided to invest a lot in design, holding events such as a Design March, which takes place every spring, in the country’s capital city, Reykjavik. And showcases fashion, furniture, architecture, food design, and other aspects of the local, as well as international, design scene.
Regarding architecture, Ms. Helgadóttir emphasized her fellow citizens’ love of mixing architecture with nature, and how such attention is needed, given the volatile conditions in the country. Most of the presentation regarding architecture showed summer houses, public attractions, pools and each each had a bit of nature in the. Iceland sure loves merging its architecture with nature in order to create a unique design.
The speaker also discussed designs such as fashion and food design, where they would shape some kind of candy like mountains which would be” geographically correct.” some cosmetics like candles that are suitably shaped like glaciers, and even some graphic designs that are meant to represent Iceland!
Inspired by design principles from different areas around the world, Iceland proceeded by merging these foreign concepts with natural elements of Iceland and develop their unique design, which they proudly exhibit around the globe so others could improve upon it and build new ideas.
For more information on Iceland Design Center, please visit their website: http://www.icelanddesign.is/