The Icelandic Design Awards 2025

October 28th, 2025

The Icelandic Design Awards honours annually outstanding Icelandic design and architecture. The importance of design for society, both culture and business is steadily growing, and thus it is vital to award good design, highlight the value of quality and recognize great designers and architects.

The Icelandic Design Awards will be awarded for the 12th time this year in three categories: Product // Place // Project. The jury nominates three projects in each category and one of each will be awarded the Icelandic Design Awards 2025.

Product - Nominations

Oase

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Oase by designer Johanna Seelemann is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Product of the year.

Oase is a series of unglazed terracotta vessels designed to be filled with water and buried in the ground near a tree, allowing the roots to absorb moisture directly through the material’s natural porosity. The design encourages reflection on how we water and care for urban greenery. While the vessels offer clear practical benefits for trees in city environments, they also stand out as sculptural and elegant objects in any home setting. Their forms are playfully unexpected, drawing inspiration from mass-produced industrial items such as metal fuel cans and bases for roadwork signage.

FÉ

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FÉ by Ranra is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Product of the year.

The collection draws inspiration from the raw beauty of Iceland, traditional craftsmanship, ancient techniques, and local materials. FÉ pays tribute to the resilience, endurance, and quiet strength that characterize the Icelandic way of life. The collection exemplifies a holistic approach to design, where time and care are devoted to material selection, production processes, and craftsmanship resulting in distinctive, high-quality garments made to last. The interplay between heritage, innovation, and a deep understanding of materials is reflected in refined pieces that carry a strong and recognizable design identity.

Elja

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Elja by Lauf Cycles is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Product of the year.

Elja is a full-suspension mountain bike that uniquely combines the characteristics of a mountain, racing, and city bike while also serving as a reliable mode of transport in all weather conditions. The design focuses on creating an exceptional riding experience, with an emphasis on quality and durable materials to ensure longevity. Each bike is produced in limited quantities, reflecting the company’s commitment to slow production principles and environmental responsibility.

Place - Nominations

Residential complex

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Residential complex by s.ap architects is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Place of the Year.

Located í Reykjavík, the 500-square-meter building spans three floors and comprises eight apartments designed specifically to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The project marks a milestone in Icelandic housing development, as it is the first building in the country where the carbon footprint was systematically reduced throughout the design process. Háteigsvegur 59 stands as a compelling example of socially responsible architecture in Iceland where innovation and material reuse guide the way forward.

Elliðaárstöð

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Elliðaárstöð by Terta is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Place of the Year.

Elliðaárstöð is a new destination in Elliðaárdalur, in Reykjavík, offering a variety of spaces and experiences within a vibrant natural setting. Once a disused industrial site, the area has been transformed into a lively year-round hub featuring public spaces, a visitor centre, and a restaurant. The redesign breathes new life into existing buildings, giving them renewed purpose and character. The outdoor area weaves seamlessly together with the activities on site, featuring a unique playground, event spaces, walking paths, and installations. The design of Elliðaárstöð does not seek to hide humanity’s presence or use of natural resources, but instead to celebrate a balanced coexistence between people and nature, an approach rooted in attentive listening to the site itself.

Stöng - (Re)interpretation

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Stöng – (Re)interpretation by SP(R)INT STUDIO is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Place of the Year.

Stöng – (Re)interpretation is a design and protective structure built over one of the oldest and best known archaeological sites in Iceland, located in Stöng í Þjórsárdal. The project forms a poetic dialogue with history, tracing the enduring thread of human presence from Iceland’s earliest habitation to the present day. Through its simplicity, the site invites visitors to imagine and envision the lives, work, and surroundings of Iceland’s first settlers. This subtlety lends the place a lyrical quality that beautifully befits its historical context. Its impact lies above all in the humility and respect the design and execution show toward the surrounding landscape.

Project - Nominations

Lavaforming

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Lavaforming by s.ap architects is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Project of the Year.
Lavaforming is a research project and vision that transforms the formidable forces of nature into valuable and sustainable building materials. Drawing on Iceland’s unique geological conditions and exploring the potential of lava as a construction material, the project reimagines how a local natural threat can be turned into an opportunity. Lavaforming presents innovative ideas for using molten lava as a building material in the cities of the future. The project is a striking example of Icelandic ingenuity, creativity, and global thinking in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

Ocean Paint

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Ocean Paint by Dýpi is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Project of the Year.
Dýpi is a paint made from calcareous algae harvested in Arnarfjörður, in the Westfjords of Iceland. The paint is environmentally friendly, plastic-free, and exceptionally breathable. It is a remarkable example of how natural materials, found in abundance, can be reimagined and utilized in an innovative way. The first color palette of Dýpi draws inspiration from the earthy tones of the landscape in and around the fjord. Each color name is closely connected to the sea, reflecting the surrounding nature. The design team has created a refined and harmonious palette that beautifully captures the atmosphere of the place. Dýpi exemplifies circular thinking, a product that is kind to nature, the environment, and the air we breathe.

Fischersund

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Fischersund by the Fischersund Art Collective is nominated for the Icelandic Design Awards, Project of the Year.
Fischersund speaks to all the senses through fragrance, music, and visual art. Since its founding, Fischersund’s sensory universe has continued to expand and evolve, growing stronger as its works and products have multiplied. The collective focuses on a holistic sensory experience, intertwining scent with visual and sonic expression. The diverse and powerful experiences that Fischersund creates serve to build bridges between memories, connecting us to places and moments, across different periods and contexts.