Seyðisfjördur Grant Awarded for Cultural Futures Design Research

Egilsstaðir - 18 September 2024:

Austurbrú, the governmental coordinator for municipalities in East Iceland, has awarded a grant from the Center for Cultural Studies in Seyðisfjörður to Hlín Helga Guðlaugsdóttir and R. Michael Hendrix. These design leaders will work together to help the community through an artistic research approach that uses design thinking and futurology.

Seyðisfjörður has become a center of creativity in Iceland. It is known as a safe space for unconventional ideas, where creative minds meet and share artistic freedom. However, economic challenges in the region threaten the future of cultural organizations. In their proposal, the designers asked: “Where does the community want to go from here? What impact should cultural institutions have in the future?”

The research has two main goals. First, it will map the strengths and achievements of the current cultural scene. Second, it will explore possible futures that the community envisions.

The proposal focuses on human experience and uses practical ways to measure success. The research will include qualitative studies, community co-design, and design thinking. The team will conduct a series of workshops to develop visual future scenarios. These scenarios will be displayed in Seyðisfjörður and online to spark discussions. The project will also organize panel talks to explore the town’s cultural future. These discussions will help the Center develop future strategies.

The work will be completed in three phases:
- Phase 1: Fall 2024
- Phase 2: Spring 2025
- Phase 3: Fall 2025

Hlín Helga Guðlaugsdóttir is the curator and creative director of DesignTalks, the keynote event of Iceland’s DesignMarch festival. R. Michael Hendrix is the managing director of the innovation and design consultancy Huldunótur in Reykjavík. Both have extensive experience as creative leaders in cultural and commercial fields. They specialize in design research, innovation workshops, and future planning. They have worked with private and public organizations, museums, academic institutions, and governments in Iceland and internationally. Their shared vision is to use creativity to inspire positive change and empower communities.

The research will be conducted in both Icelandic and English. The findings will be presented in both languages and visually.


  • hendrix@invisiblenotes.com