Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 30
Occupation: Designer.
Instagram: @valdissteinars
Hometown: Reykjavik.
Studio location: Reykjavik.
Describe what you make: I mainly focus on material experiments by recycling organic matter.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: I have a hard time choosing a single thing. For example, I have worked on a series of projects where I researched the meat industry and the waste materials it produces. One of the reasons I started looking into it was the fact I found it to be an extremely hard topic to address. But that was exactly what inspired me to go further, because as designers we need to be brave and also be ready to tackle uncomfortable issues.
Describe the problem your work solves: With my projects, I hope to bring societal changes and open up a platform for discussion and debate.
Describe the project you are working on now: Covid-19 has changed a lot of my plans. Tactility has been an important part of my material projects, but now that touching has become kind of taboo, I have to rethink how I showcase my work. Usually viewers would be allowed to touch the material experiments to experience them. Now that touching should be kept to a minimum, I’ve started exploring Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) to stimulate the viewer’s senses to experience the materials.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: I absolutely must have enough space to work.
What you do when you’re not working: Eat popcorn and watch drag queens lip sync.
Sources of creative envy: I don’t think envy is the right word. I adore anyone that can provoke a thought or a feeling through their work.
The distraction you want to eliminate: It’s unfair when you try to be healthy and drink lots of water, then you constantly have to go to the bathroom.
Concrete or marble? Marble
High-rise or townhouse? As long as the people I love are there, I’m happy.
Remember or forget? I don’t remember…
Aliens or ghosts? Definitely alien ghosts.
Dark or light? You always need both in your life.
