I was recently interviewed by Charlotte Rivers from Computer Arts Magazine about Icelandic Design. A few words from the interview appeared along with my work in the Computer Arts Magazine issue 184.
I got Charlotte’s permission to publish the entire interview here on the blog:
Can you tell me about you, your work, how you began designing, what you specialise in, your clients, your style and so on? (Also let me know if you have won any awards or been named ‘best designer in …’ etc)
Sure. I am Ragnar Freyr. I’m 30 years old, born in 1980 in a town called Akureyri. I live in Reykjavík with my wife Ragnheiður Ösp and our pug. I began designing when I got my first computer and the internet in 1995. Back then I really didn’t know what design was but I liked making websites and publishing content. Slowly, I started spending more and more time on the visual aspect of my websites and that is how it all began.
I don’t specialise. I may focus on something for a certain amount of time to develop skill but I like to keep things fairly open and explore new things. I tend to look to the old masters of design who, many, found inspiration and expression within all the arts. Although I do not consider myself a photographer, programmer or an architect I don’t want to limit myself to not learning and using what I learn in my projects.
I’d like to think I don’t have a particular style but I am sure there are some themes that run through my body of work. I am a minimalist at heart in both work and play. I like to achieve a powerful effect or message through minimal visual communication using color, contrast, angle and other tools from the visual grammar. I’ve been inspired by the International Typographic Style and have applied some of the principles to my own work. I guess in terms of style I try to frequently ask myself: Is this approprate?
I’ve won some awards but I don’t really subscribe to them or the general idea. I’d much rather have my work published in a great book or on a nice blog. Even a single e-mail from an inspired onlooker means more to me. I don’t think graphic design should be compared. Of course you can compete to offer the best solution for one specific problem but awards normally compare apples and oranges – different solutions to highly unrelated problems – and award based on arbitrary votes from a jury. I don’t mean to put off awards seeking designers. I bet some studios sell their services well through the means of displaying awards won and that’s all fine and dandy. That’s just not my cup of tea.
What do you think distinguishes you as an Icelandic designer? Can you explain what, how etc?
Only the geographical location. I live and work on the internet as a part of the global design scene. Although I would very much like it, living here does not give me magical powers!
How would you describe the Icelandic graphic design scene / culture today? Is the design scene there thriving? If so why do you think this is?
I would say the graphic design scene in Icelandic is doing pretty good at the moment. We are lucky to have quite a lot of talented designers with great ideas doing work that they love. However I do think there are too many corners and Icelandic designers tend to keep to theirs. I would love to see more meetups, discussions, collaboration, education and general outreach.
Can you tell me about the leading design trends in Iceland today?
I think we follow global trends rather than local ones. We are well connected and are influenced by the world as well as our local peers. All this comes together in a quite international and un-geographical visual medley.
How do you think traditional Icelandic culture influences design?
I think our heritage and traditions influence motifs rather than general style. We sometimes seek these motifs as a way to display where we are from and what we represent but only when appropriate.
And the same for the economy, it’s geographic location and it’s politics - how do you think these things influence the design scene?
Econimics, geography and politics can influence the design scene in a very direct way regarding opportunities, production quality, exposure and so forth. However, nothing of the material world can really affect the core of what design is and what it can do. The mankind’s desire to create meaningful things will always trump any constraints of an undesired outer circumstance.
What makes Icelandic design unique and sets it apart from design from the rest of the world? And how does it compare with neighbouring Scandinavian countries? What do you think Icelandic graphic design most recognised for? Styles, influences and so on…
I think Icelandic graphic design is most recognized for Iceland. It might be a saddening observation and not precicely what people want to hear. I don’t think there’s anything different going on in terms of style or approach that’s specific to only Icelandic designers. Gegraphical location and cultural settings don’t affect designers as much as it did in the olde days, although there are certainly examples of that. You wouldn’t look at a piece done by an Icelandic graphic designer and say with conviction Yep, that’s Icelandic. Same with Danish, Norwegian or even British. The boundaries are blurring and I think that might be both a blessing and a curse.
Who are the exciting emerging graphic design talents there today? Why do you think they are doing so well?
I’ve been admiring the work of these four gentlemen over the last few weeks. There are many more great graphic design talents in Iceland but these have cought my attention recently:
Guðmundur Ingi Úlfarsson
I like his lo-fi typographical work.
Ármann Agnarsson
Ármann has been doing some very beautiful and elegant print work lately.
Gunnar Þór Vilhjálmsson
Extremely well done print objects, posters and typography. Simply beautiful.
Siggeir Hafsteinsson
I really like Siggeir’s mastery of abstract illustrations and form experimentations. Very productive and not afraid to try new things.
What do you see for the future for Icelandic design?
I see good things. The scene is maturing and we have a lot of talented designers doing what they love. When people do what they love their work will radiate sincerity and a certain quality that impresses, inspires and motivates other to think, act or simply savor.
