ÞYKJÓ
Interdisciplinary Design Team
An interdisciplinary design project for children and their families in the fields of textile, toy and experiential design.
ÞYKJÓ (pronounced thickyo) is the Icelandic noun for make-believe. ÞYKJÓ's design projects aim to stimulate the imagination and creativity of children during free play.
Through a careful selection of materials and forms, they take into consideration how the senses are stimulated through their designs, including motor development, sense of balance and sense of touch. ÞYKJÓ organizes versatile art workshops, installations and events in collaboration with museums and cultural institutions.
Behind ÞYKJÓ is a group of diverse designers who apply different fields of expertise in their collaborative work. Among ÞYKJÓ's designers are an architect, a fashion designer and bespoke tailor, a children's culture designer and a scenography designer. The team collaborates closely with artists, scientists, scholars within the field of pedagogy, and last but not least with children.
In their product- and production development, ÞYKJÓ apply local expertise and technical equipment from diverse industries, the focus being on using materials that would otherwise go to waste.
In 2021 the ÞYKJÓ collective were artists in residency at the Culture Houses of Kópavogur (Gerðarsafn Art Museum, Salurinn Music Hall, Library of Kópavogur). During Design March 2021 we highlighted the work created thus far via installations, workshops and events.
In the fall of 2021 ÞYKJÓ was shortlisted for the Icelandic Design Awards. The jury celebrated ÞYKJÓ's interdisciplinary approach to design, collaboration with artists and scholars alike, as well as how designers collaborate and mediate with children during their design process.
Current projects in development include experiential design for children in Harpa Concert Hall.
The team
Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir
Theatre Artist
Sigríður Sunna is the founder and artistic director of ÞYKJÓ. She has worked extensively within set, costume, and puppet design for theatres including The National Theatre of Iceland, Reykjavik City Theatre and The Icelandic Dance Company. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a BA in comparative literature from University of Iceland and Karlova University Prague.
Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir
Theatre Artist
Sigríður Sunna is the founder and artistic director of ÞYKJÓ. She has worked extensively within set, costume, and puppet design for theatres including The National Theatre of Iceland, Reykjavik City Theatre and The Icelandic Dance Company. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a BA in comparative literature from University of Iceland and Karlova University Prague.
Ninna Þórarinsdóttir
Children's Culture Designer
Ninna is a child culture designer, specializing in illustration, motion and toy design. She freelances from her studio in Reykjavik, her clients include Van Gogh Museum, Reykjavik City Library and Conservation Centres for Species Survival. Ninna graduated with a BA in design from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2006 and she finished her MA in Child Culture Design from HDK, Gothenburg, Sweden in 2015.
Ninna Þórarinsdóttir
Children's Culture Designer
Ninna is a child culture designer, specializing in illustration, motion and toy design. She freelances from her studio in Reykjavik, her clients include Van Gogh Museum, Reykjavik City Library and Conservation Centres for Species Survival. Ninna graduated with a BA in design from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2006 and she finished her MA in Child Culture Design from HDK, Gothenburg, Sweden in 2015.
Erla Ólafsdóttir
Architect
Erla studied at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation finishing her MA in architecture in 2016. Previously she had studied Comparative Literature and Art History at the University of Iceland. Erla has worked for various studios including dap architects, studiohringur and studio arnhildur pálmadóttir. In addition she has freelanced on projects ranging from interior designs to summerhouses to set designs.
Erla Ólafsdóttir
Architect
Erla studied at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation finishing her MA in architecture in 2016. Previously she had studied Comparative Literature and Art History at the University of Iceland. Erla has worked for various studios including dap architects, studiohringur and studio arnhildur pálmadóttir. In addition she has freelanced on projects ranging from interior designs to summerhouses to set designs.
Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir
Fashion Designer and Bespoke Tailor
Sigurbjörg studied design and bespoke tailoring at London College of Fashion, having previously finished her Journeymans Certificate in Dressmaking at Reykjavík’s Technical Collage. She has worked on costume construction at the Royal Opera House, Icelandic Opera and National Theatre of Iceland. Her work as a costume maker also extends to film and television, including the feature film Summerlight and television series Thin Ice.
Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir
Fashion Designer and Bespoke Tailor
Sigurbjörg studied design and bespoke tailoring at London College of Fashion, having previously finished her Journeymans Certificate in Dressmaking at Reykjavík’s Technical Collage. She has worked on costume construction at the Royal Opera House, Icelandic Opera and National Theatre of Iceland. Her work as a costume maker also extends to film and television, including the feature film Summerlight and television series Thin Ice.
ÞYKJÓ
Interdisciplinary Design Team
An interdisciplinary design project for children and their families in the fields of textile, toy and experiential design.
ÞYKJÓ (pronounced thickyo) is the Icelandic noun for make-believe. ÞYKJÓ's design projects aim to stimulate the imagination and creativity of children during free play.
Through a careful selection of materials and forms, they take into consideration how the senses are stimulated through their designs, including motor development, sense of balance and sense of touch. ÞYKJÓ organizes versatile art workshops, installations and events in collaboration with museums and cultural institutions.
Behind ÞYKJÓ is a group of diverse designers who apply different fields of expertise in their collaborative work. Among ÞYKJÓ's designers are an architect, a fashion designer and bespoke tailor, a children's culture designer and a scenography designer. The team collaborates closely with artists, scientists, scholars within the field of pedagogy, and last but not least with children.
In their product- and production development, ÞYKJÓ apply local expertise and technical equipment from diverse industries, the focus being on using materials that would otherwise go to waste.
In 2021 the ÞYKJÓ collective were artists in residency at the Culture Houses of Kópavogur (Gerðarsafn Art Museum, Salurinn Music Hall, Library of Kópavogur). During Design March 2021 we highlighted the work created thus far via installations, workshops and events.
In the fall of 2021 ÞYKJÓ was shortlisted for the Icelandic Design Awards. The jury celebrated ÞYKJÓ's interdisciplinary approach to design, collaboration with artists and scholars alike, as well as how designers collaborate and mediate with children during their design process.
Current projects in development include experiential design for children in Harpa Concert Hall.
The team
Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir
Theatre Artist
Sigríður Sunna is the founder and artistic director of ÞYKJÓ. She has worked extensively within set, costume, and puppet design for theatres including The National Theatre of Iceland, Reykjavik City Theatre and The Icelandic Dance Company. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a BA in comparative literature from University of Iceland and Karlova University Prague.
Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir
Theatre Artist
Sigríður Sunna is the founder and artistic director of ÞYKJÓ. She has worked extensively within set, costume, and puppet design for theatres including The National Theatre of Iceland, Reykjavik City Theatre and The Icelandic Dance Company. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a BA in comparative literature from University of Iceland and Karlova University Prague.
Ninna Þórarinsdóttir
Children's Culture Designer
Ninna is a child culture designer, specializing in illustration, motion and toy design. She freelances from her studio in Reykjavik, her clients include Van Gogh Museum, Reykjavik City Library and Conservation Centres for Species Survival. Ninna graduated with a BA in design from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2006 and she finished her MA in Child Culture Design from HDK, Gothenburg, Sweden in 2015.
Ninna Þórarinsdóttir
Children's Culture Designer
Ninna is a child culture designer, specializing in illustration, motion and toy design. She freelances from her studio in Reykjavik, her clients include Van Gogh Museum, Reykjavik City Library and Conservation Centres for Species Survival. Ninna graduated with a BA in design from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2006 and she finished her MA in Child Culture Design from HDK, Gothenburg, Sweden in 2015.
Erla Ólafsdóttir
Architect
Erla studied at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation finishing her MA in architecture in 2016. Previously she had studied Comparative Literature and Art History at the University of Iceland. Erla has worked for various studios including dap architects, studiohringur and studio arnhildur pálmadóttir. In addition she has freelanced on projects ranging from interior designs to summerhouses to set designs.
Erla Ólafsdóttir
Architect
Erla studied at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation finishing her MA in architecture in 2016. Previously she had studied Comparative Literature and Art History at the University of Iceland. Erla has worked for various studios including dap architects, studiohringur and studio arnhildur pálmadóttir. In addition she has freelanced on projects ranging from interior designs to summerhouses to set designs.
Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir
Fashion Designer and Bespoke Tailor
Sigurbjörg studied design and bespoke tailoring at London College of Fashion, having previously finished her Journeymans Certificate in Dressmaking at Reykjavík’s Technical Collage. She has worked on costume construction at the Royal Opera House, Icelandic Opera and National Theatre of Iceland. Her work as a costume maker also extends to film and television, including the feature film Summerlight and television series Thin Ice.
Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir
Fashion Designer and Bespoke Tailor
Sigurbjörg studied design and bespoke tailoring at London College of Fashion, having previously finished her Journeymans Certificate in Dressmaking at Reykjavík’s Technical Collage. She has worked on costume construction at the Royal Opera House, Icelandic Opera and National Theatre of Iceland. Her work as a costume maker also extends to film and television, including the feature film Summerlight and television series Thin Ice.