Steinunn
Bjarnadóttir
Steinunn Bjarnadóttir is an Icelandic designer, maker, and teacher based between London and Iceland. She explores how materials and places shape identity, merging traditional techniques with natural and repurposed materials to create dynamic designs.
Steinunn’s work explores alternative materials such as discarded chains, wild clay, lava fragments, and waste through her creative process. She allows the materials to guide her designs and making, relinquishing control to let the inherent qualities of the materials shape the final outcome.
Landris
A collection of ceramic architecture for the dining table, inspired by her move from the little fishing town of Hafnarfjörður to the global city of London.
The collection offers three artefacts that blend elements of urban architecture with the dramatic, brutal natural landscapes of Iceland, merging architectural forms with found materials from the Icelandic landscape. Monumental ceramic objects offer users a surprising, new and versatile functionality. Each piece serves as a sculpture, platter, or container.
The design functionality includes stackable and movable pieces that can be adapted to a user’s personal tastes.
Hnýta
Steinunn was selected as the winner of The Deadstock Project by Missoma, an initiative that transforms unused and surplus materials into unique, sustainable pieces—aligning with her commitment to environmentally conscious design.
Her project, “Hnýta”, draws inspiration from the knots and ties of ancient armour in the V&A collection, reinterpreted through traditional Icelandic knitting techniques. Knitting, deeply rooted in Icelandic culture and personal family traditions, became a way to explore and transform Missoma’s deadstock materials.
Through experimenting with centuries-old stitches, Steinunn created objects, including collars and gloves, each showcasing the beauty of Missoma’s knitted chains and the versatility of the design.
Alúð
The importance of human connection and touch became sharply evident during the two years Steinunn was separated from family and home due to college and Covid. Twice a week, their family gathers at their grandfather’s house to share a meal—a sacred time filled with news, laughter, and sorrow, where Steinunn feels most at peace.
Through Alúð, Steinunn seeks to recreate this sense of familial connection with a set of dinnerware inspired by human touch. The pieces reflect those used in traditional Sunday gatherings, with surfaces drawn from the subtle colours of the Icelandic landscape, offering a comforting embrace to the user akin to that of family and homeland.