Nominations for the Icelandic Design Awards 2026
The Icelandic Design Awards highlight the importance and excellence of design and architecture in Iceland, recognising their contribution to quality of life, value creation and sustainability across society.
The awards ceremony will take place at Gróska on Thursday, 5 November. Everyone is warmly welcome to join us in celebrating outstanding Icelandic design and architecture. We kindly ask guests to register for the event here.
The awards recognise outstanding achievements across three categories: Product // Place // Project, with three nominations in each category. In addition, the Icelandic Design Awards Honorary Award and the Award for Best Investment in Design will be presented.
Backflip is a folding chair designed by Guðmundur Lúðvík for HAY. Reimagining a familiar piece of furniture, the chair seamlessly integrates its folding mechanism into the backrest, placing beauty, comfort and form at the forefront.
Leiftur is a rescue boat designed by Páll Einarsson for Rafnar. The boat forms part of Rafnar's continuously expanding range of rescue vessels, which are in operation around the world.
Mystic Garden is a collection of glass lamps by Brynjar Sigurðarson and Veronika Sedlmair of Studio Brynjar and Veronika. The collection consists of hand-blown glass elements, bringing together explorations of material, colour and light with narratives inspired by nature, romance and the supernatural.
Óskaland is an extension to the kindergarten of the same name in Hveragerði, designed by marimo architects. Architecture, interior design, custom-made furnishings and diverse garden spaces come together to create a playful and welcoming environment shaped by children's scale, perspectives and experiences.
Baugur Bjólfs is a circular viewing platform at Bæjarbrún, perched 650 metres above Seyðisfjörður. Designed by Arkibygg and Esja Architecture, the structure offers spectacular panoramic views from the mouth of the fjord to the valley beyond.
Frakkastígur 1 is a residential and commercial building designed by s.ap architects. An outstanding example of experimental circular design, the project integrates material reuse, life cycle assessments and long-term adaptability into its architecture from the outset.
Sketching Bathing in Iceland is a project by Rán Flygenring exploring Iceland's unique swimming pool culture. The project was published as a book of the same name and brought to life through an exhibition and poolside drawing workshops at three swimming pools in Reykjavík.
Vitrum Iceland is a project by designer Johanna Seelemann encompassing research, experimentation, design, production and exhibition. Bringing together craftsmanship and industrial processes, Johanna creates innovative solutions, methods and objects from recycled glass. The works, including side tables, wall lamps, vases, shelves and a chair, were exhibited at H,A,K,K Gallery.
¡Hola! is a campaign addressing the condition of Iceland's roads, created by advertising agency Pipar\TBWA for the road construction company Colas.
The Icelandic Design Awards are organised by Iceland Design and Architecture in collaboration with the Icelandic Museum of Design and Applied Art and the Iceland University of the Arts, with the support of Business Iceland, the Housing and Construction Authority, Gróska, University of Iceland Science Park and Blue Lagoon Iceland.
