Sketching Bathing in Iceland Named Project of the Year at the Icelandic Design Awards 2026
Sketching Bathing in Iceland has received the Icelandic Design Award 2026 in the Project category for its comprehensive exploration of Iceland's bathing history and culture. The project reflects a deep understanding of swimming pools as social spaces in everyday Icelandic life, informal gathering places for conversation, gossip and connections across generations, while making this unique culture accessible to those unfamiliar with it. Through a distinctive illustrated journey, the project offers a fascinating insight into the character, humour and cultural identity of Iceland.
Sketching Bathing in Iceland is a project by Rán Flygenring exploring Icelandic swimming pool culture. The work was published as a book of the same name and presented through an exhibition and drawing workshops held at three swimming pools in Reykjavík.
Sketching Bathing in Iceland captures the essence of Icelandic swimming pool culture with remarkable humour and lightness. Its raw simplicity resonates with audiences, while offering valuable insight for those unfamiliar with Iceland's bathing traditions, which were recently inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Through the book, Rán documents the distinctive character and diversity of Icelandic swimming pool culture in an engaging and accessible way, appealing to both Icelanders and international visitors. The project reflects a profound understanding of swimming pools as social spaces in everyday Icelandic life, informal meeting places where conversations, gossip and connections unfold across generations, social groups and cultural backgrounds. At the same time, it makes this deeply rooted tradition accessible and understandable to those encountering it for the first time.
The jury highlights Rán's personal and humorous approach to documenting Icelandic swimming pool culture through on-site illustration. Her work serves as a form of cultural storytelling that invites further conversation and opens the door to new perspectives and narratives. Rán takes on the dual role of participant and observer, and her distinctive drawing style reflects this approach. The project consists of atmospheric illustrations that sensitively capture the water, surroundings and spirit of Icelandic swimming pools, brought together through a cohesive visual language that extends from the original drawings to the exhibition and book.
Sketching Bathing in Iceland is an outstanding and cohesive project that documents and communicates Icelandic bathing culture with exceptional insight, sensitivity and humour.
Rán Flygenring is an award-winning Icelandic illustrator, artist, designer and author. She is known for her distinctive, playful and unconventional visual style, as well as her work exploring nature, the environment and the art of storytelling. She is also part of the team representing Iceland at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2027 with a project exploring Icelandic bathing culture.
The book Sketching Bathing in Iceland was designed by Studio Studio, Arnar Freyr Guðmundsson and Birna Geirfinnsdóttir.
The Icelandic Design Awards were presented for the thirteenth time at a ceremony held at Gróska on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The award was presented by Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir, Director of the Icelandic Museum of Design and Applied Art.
The Icelandic Design Awards recognise designers, architects, design teams and studios for outstanding recent projects. The awards celebrate excellence in design and architecture, highlighting projects that represent the very best in their fields. The jury looks for work that demonstrates exceptional quality and impact, creative thinking, innovative solutions, thoughtful execution, aesthetic excellence and professional expertise. Consideration is also given to user experience, originality and the project's positive contribution to quality of life, value creation and sustainability.
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 support from Business Iceland, the Housing and Construction Authority, Gróska, University of Iceland Science Park and Blue Lagoon Iceland.
