Established in 1994, The Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize is conferred annually on a Nordic designer or craftsperson. In addition to the prize money (one million Swedish kronor), the laureate is granted an exhibition at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg. A comprehensive book, reflecting the artist’s life and work, is created for the exhibit.

Our brief was to create a design concept and graphic design that highlights the Söderberg Prize and the laureate, and generates interest in the long term for Nordic design and crafts.

2018’s laureate is Icelandic designer Brynjar Sigurðarson, whose work is rooted in the fundamentals of Iceland’s heritage—nature, fishing and storytelling. Taking traditional roping methods out of their original environment and applying them to his design, Sigurðarson has created a new visual expression.

Our design solution is an interpretation of—and a tribute to—the laureate. By using techniques that he uses in his design, we have created a bridge between the book's design and the content it presents.

The catalogue is almost impossible to open without a sharp tool. The inspiration came from the laureate himself, whose intricate use of coloured ropes and knots brings ancient Icelandic crafts into the present. Four different cover photos, all taken by Brynjar himself, provide a close-up of Iceland’s dramatic landscape. The ropes are hand-knotted, and each cover is unique, which in itself creates added value.

The book is sold through the Röhsska Museum, but will also be available at libraries throughout Sweden. The project recently won first prize in Resume Magazine's jury-rated "Design of the month".