Upcoming
2020 Banana Story exhibition at The Vögele Kultur Zentrum: Let’s Eat. Joy, Pressure and Responsibility around Food.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Design Muesum Finland.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Vandalorum - Sweden.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Tønder Art Museum - Denmark.
2020 Direct Air Cash exhibition at 2050 as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibition Hafnarborg as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibition at studio Björn Steinar as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Plastplan exhibition at the studio as a part of DesignMarch.
Exhibitions
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibited in Harbour Front - Toronto at Fututre Retrospective.
2019 Plastplan participating in Plastlaus September in Reykjavík City Hall.
2019 Banana Story exhibition in Vicoria and Albert Museum, at FOOD: Bigger Than The Plate.
2019 Materia exhibition at LungA festival.
2019 Skógarnytjar exhibition at Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík.
2019 Catch of the day exhibition at Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík.
2019 Banana Story exhibition at Bismút, Reykjavík.
2019 Willow Project exhibition at Shanghai Design Week.
2018 Catch of the day exhibited in Temporary Art Center at Dutch Design Week.
2018 Cargo exhibited as a part of The Magic Box; Shipping, shopping and the global consumer in Maritime Museum of Denmark.
2018 Matter out of place exhibited in Red Gate Residency - Beijing.
2018 Alternative Gardening exhibited in Þverholt 11 as a part of DesignMarch.
2018 Skógarnytjar exhibited in Heiðmörk as a part of DesignMarch.
2018 Catch of the day exhibited in Bismút as a part of DesignMarch.
2017 Willow Project exhibited in TextilMuseum as a part of Earth Matters.
2017 Cargo exhibited in Straumsvík Aluminum Smelter as a part of DesignMarch.
2017 Cargo exhibited in Reiðarfjörður Aluminum Smelter
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Skriðuklaustur.
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Sjóminjasafnið as a part of DesignMarch.
2016 Alternative gardening / nutrition exhibited in Grótta lighthouse as a part of DesignMarch.
2016 Cargo exhibited in Reykjavík Art Museum as a part of the graduation show of the Icelandic Academy of the Arts.
2016 Connective Collective: Local Production Pt.1 exhibited in the Iceland Ocean Cluster on Food & Innovation.
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Klokgebouw as a part of Dutch Design Week.
2015 Just wood exhibited in Kaffistofan as a part of DesignMarch.
2015 Willow Project exhibited at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts.
Publications
2020 Catch of the day featured in issue 18 of Carage by Vice media.
2020 Skógarnytjar featured in Hús og Híbýl and Morgunblaðið.
2019 Banana Story featured in The Economist and HA magazine.
2019 Plastplan featured on 101 Live Radio.
2019 Cargo featured in Hvað höfum við gert? on Icelandic national station.
2019 Skógarnytjar featured in Interior Design, Damn Magazine.
2019 Catch of the day featured in Nordic style, Damn Magazine and Tímarit Skógræktar á Íslandi.
2019 Banana Story published in Icon Magazine: Speciale 100 talenti.
2019 Björn Steinar featured Hvað höfum við gert? Hvað getum við gert? on Rúv núll.
2019 Catch of the day featured in Hvað höfum við gert? takk on Icelandic national station.
2019 Skógarnytjar book published.
2019 Catch of the day featured on Eitt stykki hönnun, takk on Icelandic national station.
2018 Catch of the day featured in Future Builders Design Awards TV show on Dutch national station NPO.
2018 Willow Project published in Why Materials Matter by Seetal Solanki.
2018 Willow Project published in Radical Matter; Rethinking materials for a sustainable future.
2018 Banana Story featured in Art4D.
2018 Catch of the day published in; Design Indaba, Glamour, Trend Tablet, Metropolis Magazine, Damn Magazine, HA Design Magazine, Man Magazine and Core 77.
2018 Skógarnytjar published in; Metropolis Magazine, Damn Magazine, Irish Times, HA Design Magazine, Man Magazine and Iceland Review.
2018 Catch of the day featured in Vikan með Gísla Marteini on RÚV.
2018 Skógarnytjar featured in Menning on RÚV.
2018 Cargo published in Dezeen and HA Design Magazine.
2017 Cargo published on Design Indabaand in Verdure Engraved.
2017 The Commodity and Anti-Capitalist Designpublished in Mæna.
2016 Willow Project book published by Partus Press.
2016 Willow Project published on Dezeen, Frame Magazine no.111, HA Magazine no.3.
2016 Björn Steinar artist of the Issue of Reykjavík grapevine.
2016 Connective Collective: Local Production Pt.1published in NORD No.4.
2015 Just wood published in Hanna Magazine and Tímarit skógræktar Reykjavíkur.
Talks
2019 Talk at Icaland Academy of the Arts as a part of Hugarflug.
2019 Talk at Plastlaus September in Reykjavík municipality.
2019 Talk at "Heimur úr Plasti" at the Icelandic Enviornmental Service.
2019 Lecture at department of Life- and Enviornmental Science at University of Iceland.
2018 Catch of the daytalk at Material 2018 in the Nordic House.
2018 Talk at Ueno Reykjavík about Catch of the day, Skógarnytjarand Cargo.
2018 Skógarnytjar introduction at Aðalfundur Skógareigenda in Hella.
2018 Cargo presented at DesignTalks in Harpa.
2018 “Islands / System” Lecture at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
2017 Cargo a part of the Antenna conference on Dutch Design Week organized by Design Indaba, World Design Eventand Dutch Design Week.
2016 Hugarflug talk; Willow Project and scientific design method.
Workshops
2019 Material World workshop at LungA festival.
2019 Artifact workshop at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
2018 Plastic recycling workshop at Iceland University of the Arts.
2018 Participation in Design Match at Helsinki Design Week.
2018 Open Precious Plastic Reykjavík workshop on Reykjavík Culuture Night.
2018 Soap bubble workshop at Museum of Design and Applied Art Iceland
2018 Workshop on behalf of Precious Plasticin WAB Beijing.
Awards
2020 Skógarnytjar won Juror´s Choice “Best in festival” at DesignTO - Toronto Design Week.
2019 Catch of the day nominated to the Icelandic Design Awards.
2019 Catch of the day - Project of the Year at Reykjavík Grapevine Design Awards.
Other
2019 - Guest teacher at the Iceland Academy of the Arts - Product design department.
2019 - Guest teacher at Lýðskólinn á Flateyri.
2019 - Guest teacher at University of Iceland - Department of Life- and Enviornmental Science.
2019 Co-founder of Plastplan - recycling, design and enviornmental education company.
2018 Representative of Icelandic design in Design Diplomacy on Helsinki Design Week.
2018 Precious PlasticReykjavík opened in Skeifan.
2017 Internship at Precious Plastic / Dave Hakkens.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at The Vögele Kultur Zentrum: Let’s Eat. Joy, Pressure and Responsibility around Food.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Design Muesum Finland.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Vandalorum - Sweden.
2020 Banana Story exhibition at Tønder Art Museum - Denmark.
2020 Direct Air Cash exhibition at 2050 as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibition Hafnarborg as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibition at studio Björn Steinar as a part of DesignMarch.
2020 Plastplan exhibition at the studio as a part of DesignMarch.
Exhibitions
2020 Skógarnytjar exhibited in Harbour Front - Toronto at Fututre Retrospective.
2019 Plastplan participating in Plastlaus September in Reykjavík City Hall.
2019 Banana Story exhibition in Vicoria and Albert Museum, at FOOD: Bigger Than The Plate.
2019 Materia exhibition at LungA festival.
2019 Skógarnytjar exhibition at Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík.
2019 Catch of the day exhibition at Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík.
2019 Banana Story exhibition at Bismút, Reykjavík.
2019 Willow Project exhibition at Shanghai Design Week.
2018 Catch of the day exhibited in Temporary Art Center at Dutch Design Week.
2018 Cargo exhibited as a part of The Magic Box; Shipping, shopping and the global consumer in Maritime Museum of Denmark.
2018 Matter out of place exhibited in Red Gate Residency - Beijing.
2018 Alternative Gardening exhibited in Þverholt 11 as a part of DesignMarch.
2018 Skógarnytjar exhibited in Heiðmörk as a part of DesignMarch.
2018 Catch of the day exhibited in Bismút as a part of DesignMarch.
2017 Willow Project exhibited in TextilMuseum as a part of Earth Matters.
2017 Cargo exhibited in Straumsvík Aluminum Smelter as a part of DesignMarch.
2017 Cargo exhibited in Reiðarfjörður Aluminum Smelter
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Skriðuklaustur.
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Sjóminjasafnið as a part of DesignMarch.
2016 Alternative gardening / nutrition exhibited in Grótta lighthouse as a part of DesignMarch.
2016 Cargo exhibited in Reykjavík Art Museum as a part of the graduation show of the Icelandic Academy of the Arts.
2016 Connective Collective: Local Production Pt.1 exhibited in the Iceland Ocean Cluster on Food & Innovation.
2016 Willow Project exhibited in Klokgebouw as a part of Dutch Design Week.
2015 Just wood exhibited in Kaffistofan as a part of DesignMarch.
2015 Willow Project exhibited at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts.
Publications
2020 Catch of the day featured in issue 18 of Carage by Vice media.
2020 Skógarnytjar featured in Hús og Híbýl and Morgunblaðið.
2019 Banana Story featured in The Economist and HA magazine.
2019 Plastplan featured on 101 Live Radio.
2019 Cargo featured in Hvað höfum við gert? on Icelandic national station.
2019 Skógarnytjar featured in Interior Design, Damn Magazine.
2019 Catch of the day featured in Nordic style, Damn Magazine and Tímarit Skógræktar á Íslandi.
2019 Banana Story published in Icon Magazine: Speciale 100 talenti.
2019 Björn Steinar featured Hvað höfum við gert? Hvað getum við gert? on Rúv núll.
2019 Catch of the day featured in Hvað höfum við gert? takk on Icelandic national station.
2019 Skógarnytjar book published.
2019 Catch of the day featured on Eitt stykki hönnun, takk on Icelandic national station.
2018 Catch of the day featured in Future Builders Design Awards TV show on Dutch national station NPO.
2018 Willow Project published in Why Materials Matter by Seetal Solanki.
2018 Willow Project published in Radical Matter; Rethinking materials for a sustainable future.
2018 Banana Story featured in Art4D.
2018 Catch of the day published in; Design Indaba, Glamour, Trend Tablet, Metropolis Magazine, Damn Magazine, HA Design Magazine, Man Magazine and Core 77.
2018 Skógarnytjar published in; Metropolis Magazine, Damn Magazine, Irish Times, HA Design Magazine, Man Magazine and Iceland Review.
2018 Catch of the day featured in Vikan með Gísla Marteini on RÚV.
2018 Skógarnytjar featured in Menning on RÚV.
2018 Cargo published in Dezeen and HA Design Magazine.
2017 Cargo published on Design Indabaand in Verdure Engraved.
2017 The Commodity and Anti-Capitalist Designpublished in Mæna.
2016 Willow Project book published by Partus Press.
2016 Willow Project published on Dezeen, Frame Magazine no.111, HA Magazine no.3.
2016 Björn Steinar artist of the Issue of Reykjavík grapevine.
2016 Connective Collective: Local Production Pt.1published in NORD No.4.
2015 Just wood published in Hanna Magazine and Tímarit skógræktar Reykjavíkur.
Talks
2019 Talk at Icaland Academy of the Arts as a part of Hugarflug.
2019 Talk at Plastlaus September in Reykjavík municipality.
2019 Talk at "Heimur úr Plasti" at the Icelandic Enviornmental Service.
2019 Lecture at department of Life- and Enviornmental Science at University of Iceland.
2018 Catch of the daytalk at Material 2018 in the Nordic House.
2018 Talk at Ueno Reykjavík about Catch of the day, Skógarnytjarand Cargo.
2018 Skógarnytjar introduction at Aðalfundur Skógareigenda in Hella.
2018 Cargo presented at DesignTalks in Harpa.
2018 “Islands / System” Lecture at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
2017 Cargo a part of the Antenna conference on Dutch Design Week organized by Design Indaba, World Design Eventand Dutch Design Week.
2016 Hugarflug talk; Willow Project and scientific design method.
Workshops
2019 Material World workshop at LungA festival.
2019 Artifact workshop at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
2018 Plastic recycling workshop at Iceland University of the Arts.
2018 Participation in Design Match at Helsinki Design Week.
2018 Open Precious Plastic Reykjavík workshop on Reykjavík Culuture Night.
2018 Soap bubble workshop at Museum of Design and Applied Art Iceland
2018 Workshop on behalf of Precious Plasticin WAB Beijing.
Awards
2020 Skógarnytjar won Juror´s Choice “Best in festival” at DesignTO - Toronto Design Week.
2019 Catch of the day nominated to the Icelandic Design Awards.
2019 Catch of the day - Project of the Year at Reykjavík Grapevine Design Awards.
Other
2019 - Guest teacher at the Iceland Academy of the Arts - Product design department.
2019 - Guest teacher at Lýðskólinn á Flateyri.
2019 - Guest teacher at University of Iceland - Department of Life- and Enviornmental Science.
2019 Co-founder of Plastplan - recycling, design and enviornmental education company.
2018 Representative of Icelandic design in Design Diplomacy on Helsinki Design Week.
2018 Precious PlasticReykjavík opened in Skeifan.
2017 Internship at Precious Plastic / Dave Hakkens.
Björn Steinar is a product designer, currently based in Reykjavík. He is an enthusiastic designer who strives towards bringing around societal change through his design practice.
Björn is from a generation of product designers; designing into a world over flooded with products and useless temptations. The world is in dire need of solutions to an array of problems, which is why Björn tends towards what he calls an anti-capitalistic design method; honest design practice with a real purpose, where no one is screwed over - neither people nor planets.
Recent works include Catch of the day – fighting food waste by handcrafting vodka from dumpster dived fruits – followed by an open source distilling machine, Cargo – an explanation of the world condition from the standpoint of the steel shipping container and banana passport and last Skógarnytjar (e. Forest Utility) – mobilizing Icelandic designers and foresters to create a culture around utilization of a new resource in a previously woodless country.
The three research-driven projects echo Björn’s vision of using design as a medium for conveying ideas. Strong narratives and expressive simple solutions, combined with close collaborations, place his local context as a metaphor for the world in a solution-oriented dialogue. Always proposing a solution, no matter how complex the problem.