Björn Steinar
2026



Information
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    • E-mail
    1. hello@bjornsteinar.com
    2. studio@plastplan.is
    Studio  Björn Steinar
    (design, exhibitions, products)

    1. Excellent hook
    2. Banana Story
    3. (WIP) Brekkuskógur
    4. Babb
    5. Jólaköttur
    6. Skógarnytjar furniture
    7. Skógarnytjar research + book
    8. Catch of the day
    9. Catch of the day: Limited covid edition
    10. Skógarnytjar co-exhibition
    11. Ulyankulu furniture
    12. Material world
    13. Ministry of Icelandic vegetables
    14. Cargo
    15. The commodity and anti-capitalistic design
    16. Willow Project

    Studio  Plastplan
    (plastic recycling, collaborations,
    comissions, products)

    1. Local collaborations
      1. Íslenska Gámafélagið
      2. Byko
      3. 66° North
      4. Ikea
      5. Krónan
      6. Icelandair
      7. A4
      8. Blush
      9. Borgarbókasafnið
      10. Ísbúð Vesturbæjar
      11. Jungle
      12. Maul
    2. Flora
    3. Everyday
    4. Jarðvarmahlaup ON
    5. Höfuðstöðin
    6. Stafrófi
    7. Machine development
    8. Borgarvin
    9. Eindhoven experiments
    10. Beijing workshop
    11. Reykjavík community workshop

    Archive Islandia
    (idependant research platform)

    1. (WIP) Publication
    2. (WIP) First draft




    Test Project 01



    Project Name
    Vivamus sed condimento
    Publisher: Querido



    Suspendisse feugiat justo at mauris.
    Aug 2037
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In porta ex a porta blandit. Suspendisse feugiat justo at mauris molestie molestie.




    Lorem Ipsum Dolor-Sit Amet
    Vivamus sed condimentum leo
    Publisher: Querido
    Design: Quisque Malesuada
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In porta ex a porta blandit. Suspendisse feugiat justo at mauris molestie molestie. Ut mattis urna sed sem pulvinar, vitae rutrum nulla ultrices. Curabitur laoreet erat et sapien venenatis luctus.

    Praesent bibendum a elit non efficitur. Etiam et velit vitae quam aliquet fermentum. Quisque sit amet nulla dictum, cursus erat a, tempus est. Sed laoreet, magna eget mattis tincidunt, felis tellus vestibulum augue, in lobortis mauris risus eu nunc. Vivamus sed condimentum leo. Nunc efficitur, magna condimentum gravida egestas, ligula mauris posuere neque, sit amet sagittis dui velit vitae neque. Donec in dapibus arcu. Aliquam efficitur suscipit magna, vel pretium mi. Aenean nisl nulla, porttitor interdum enim nec, sagittis suscipit mauris. Quisque malesuada ullamcorper lacus, nec posuere odio egestas vel. Suspendisse potenti.
            Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut nisl metus, accumsan id eros id, vehicula tincidunt nisl. Nulla sit amet urna ut mi tempor euismod. Fusce elementum sapien eget elit sodales fringilla. Pellentesque et nulla vel velit malesuada fermentum vitae vitae justo. Nulla dignissim volutpat interdum. Pellentesque at molestie tortor. Proin magna ante, fermentum ac elementum at.




    Studio Björn Steinar






    Studio Björn Steinar is the independent - although often collaborative - design practice of Björn Steinar Blumenstein, working across products, exhibitions, publications and research. The studio combines design and investigation to explore local materials, circular production and global systems, transforming environmental and social challenges into accessible, solution-oriented projects.




    Excellent hook


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2025







    This excellent hook meets the needs, desires, and hopes of people who want to hang things up. The hook is made from 55 of the 118 elements in the periodic table, along with numerous chemical compounds. Around 441,000 people were involved in various stages of its production, from material collection, processing, and component manufacturing to distribution, research, development and design.

    Material:
    ABS, Aluminum (Al), Aluminium oxide, Arsenic (As), Bismuth (Bi), Boron (B), Boron Nitride (BN), Sulfur (S), Barium Oxide, Dysprosium (Dy), Epoxy Glue, Europium (Eu), Resin, Phosphorus (P), Gallium (Ga), Gallium Nitride, Germanium (Ge), Graphite, Gold (Au), Rubber, Hafnium Dioxide, Holmium (Ho), Indium Phosphide, Iron (Fe), Silicon (Si), Silicon Carbide, Silicon Dioxide, Silicon Nitride, Nickel (Ni), Silicone Glue, Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Chromate (Cr), Lithium (Li), Lithium Cobalt Oxide, Lanthanum (La), Lutetium (Lu), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Mica, Nickel (Ni), Molybdenum (Mo), Nylon, Osmium (Os), Palladium (Pd), PET, Platinum (Pt), Polycarbonate, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Praseodymium (Pr), Stainless Steel, Ruthenium (Ru), Sapphire Crystal, Samarium (Sm), Selenium (Se), Silver (Ag), Strontium Dioxide, Tantalum (Ta), Teflon, Terbium (Tb), Tellurium (Te), Thulium (Tm), Titanium (Ti), Tin (Sn), Tungsten (W), Ytterbium (Yb), Yttrium (Y), Zirconium Dioxide, Zinc (Zn).
      

    Produced for HAKK Gallery.




    Banana Story


    Studio Björn Steinar + Johanna Seelemann
    2016-2019




    Facing a supermarket dumpster in Iceland, filled with decent bananas, left us in awe. Roughly 8.800 kilometers away from their origin in Ecuador, yet taken for granted. We felt under their spotless peels was a story to uncover.

    Our fascination with seemingly ordinary products grew – the more complex the story got. Global cargo shipping and human relations are intertwined in our proposition; a new language for alternative and actually informative made-in label.

    Concept, development, production: Björn Steinar Blumenstein & Johanna Seelemann.
    Made-in label illustration: Magnús Ingvar Ágússtsson.
    Client: Banana Made-In Label for the Victoria & Albert Museum London.









    Work in progress.

    Babb


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2021






    Babb is a lively mobile designed for Reykjavík Art Museum. The work references the material world of Ásmundur Sveinsson and his evolution as an artist. Local and exotic raw materials, characteristic of different periods in his artistic practice, come together in a balanced composition through an object that brings life to the space.

    Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982) was one of the pioneers of Icelandic sculpture. His works reflect Icelandic folklore, society, and nature. Many of his sculptures are part of the public realm and have become familiar landmarks in the urban landscape. Throughout his life, Ásmundur believed that art should be an integral part of everyday life.

    Materials: Clay, bronze, larch, basalt, steel.
    Client:  Reykjavík  Art Muesum
    Availability: For sale at  Ásmundarsafn

    Jólaköttur


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2023






    Jólaköttur (Yule Cat) is a Christmas ornament designed for Rammagerðin in 2023. The commission reimagines the iconic figure from Icelandic folklore as a contemporary holiday decoration, celebrating local traditions through simple and playful design.

    Client: Rammagerðin
    Creative director: Auður Gná
    Photography (1,2,5,6): Sunna Ben





    Skógarnytjar


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2018





    Skógarnytjar builds on top of a two year research and development in collaboration with the Icelandic forestry sector. The project consists of a furniture line produced from Icelandic wood, designed with the needs of local industries in mind. A book of the same title, Skógarnytjar, lays a foundation for a new culture around Icelandic wood; that contributes to sustainable use of a new resource, and mediates information about future possibilities.

    With the first Icelandic furniture line in years Skógarnytjar proves the multiple possibilities that lays at the feet of the Icelandic forestry community. A publication of the same-titled book puts the concept in context with other Icelandic resources that can benefit society in multiple ways. Skógarnytjar builds on top of a two year research and development in
    collaboration with the Icelandic forestry sector. A furniture line produced from Icelandic wood was premiered, designed with the needs of local industries in mind. A book of the same title, Skógarnytjar, lays a foundation for a new culture around Icelandic wood; that contributes to sustainable use of a new resource, and mediated information about future possibilities    .

    Collaborators:
    Skógræktarfélag Íslands, Skógræktarfélag Reykjavíkur, Landssamtök Skógareigenda, Skógræktin,
    Skógarafurðir.
    Book design: Gabríel Markan.
    Video and sound: Romain Laval.
    Special thanks: Björn Bjarndal, Brynjólfur Jónsson, Carl V. Prytz, Carl H. Ryder, Christian E. Flensborg, Hlynur Gauti Sigurðsson, Helgi Gíslason, Sævar Hreiðarsson
    Worlds most specual thanks: Romain Laval for  co-writing, co-designing  and co-creating.
    Supported by: Skógræktarfélag Íslands, Skógræktarfélag Reykjavíkur, Landssamtök Skógareigenda, Iceland Design and Architecture Fund,  Artists Salary Fund.





    Skógarnytjar research / book


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2023







    Skógarnytjar builds on top of a two year research and development in collaboration with the Icelandic forestry sector. The project consists of a
    furniture line produced from Icelandic wood, designed with the needs of local industries in mind. A book of the same title, Skógarnytjar, lays a foundation for a new culture around Icelandic wood; that contributes to sustainable use of a new resource, and mediates information about future possibilities.


    Book design: Gabríel Markan.
    Video and sound: Romain Laval.
    Photography: Björn Steinar & Romain Laval.







    Catch of the day


    Studio Björn Steinar
    2018





    Catch of the day is fighting food waste - one spirit bottle at a time!
    Spirits produced from leftover fruits prolongs the ‘best before’ date to infinity - since alcohol over 23% can never go bad. Armed with a simple open-source distilling machine, Björn Steinar is seeking innovative ways to fight food waste, and at the same time the project serves as an icebreaker in a very important discussion.    In collaboration with local food importers, that supply discarded fruits, and a local gin producer, Catch of the day is developing into a market ready product with a very strong statement.

    Collaborators: Matís, Foss Distillery, Þoran Distillery, Bananar ehf.  
    Video: Bjarni Svarnur Friðsteinsson.
    Sound: Áskell Harðarson.
    Specual thanks:     Hákon Freyr - Hovdank.
    Supported by: Iceland Design and Architecture Fund,  Artists Salary Fund.







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    ©Studio Björn Steinar / hello@bjornsteinar.com
    ©Studio Plastplan / studio@plastplan.is - 580619-1770