Rendez-Wood?

Rendez-wood? is a series of projects realised by third year students in the Product Design Department of Iceland Academy of the Arts (IAA).

The collection originated in a workshop called “A Design Rendezvous with Icelandic Forestry” that was based on exploring the potential of locally produced wood. First time visitors to Iceland often notice a lack of forests in the landscape. Viking settlers cleared the forest for their pastures many centuries ago but today Icelanders make amends for the mistakes of their forefathers and there are more trees planted per head of population than in any other country in the world. Iceland is therefore well on it’s way to forest sustainability and it is estimated that in the next few decades local wood production will expand so greatly that imported wood will no longer be needed. The Rendez-wood? projects are about exploring the current value of Icelandic wood and it’s possibilities as a production material in the near future.

The students took inspiration from the qualities and abilities of the Icelandic outdoors. The ideas derive from the urge to use the material world to make something new and to experience the joy of creating, using simple and honest methods. It is a back to basics and primitive concept focusing on the modern man’s need to reconnect with nature.