Iceland Through A Designer’s Eye

Nordic Inspiration from a solo trip abroad

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) changed my life. Or more like changed what I wanted my life to be because I was fourteen years old when I watched it.

I was twenty-four years old when I took this solo trip. Some highlights included:

• Learning to pronounce Þ and ð and Eyjafjallajökull

• Meeting a new friend for the day and sharing a plate of artisan cheese at a geothermal tomato farm

• A surprise tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula that I booked the day before because my other plans got cancelled, which ended up being the gem of the trip

• Climbing basalt columns at a black sand beach and then walking around in awe at the geology-inspired architecture of the Harpa in Reykjavik

Here are a few of the many things around Iceland that caught my eye.

Just surreal

These carvings at Djúpalónssandur

Rainbow earth at Kerið Crater

I bought this jacket for this trip just because of the color

Hand-painted signage that made me walk across a parking lot

Basalt doing it’s thing

Genius

Tomato gradient

If you know, you know

Moments that tell a story

From inspiration to identity—see how these ideas come to life in my work.

Explore my recent brand identity projects inspired by travel, nature, and thoughtfully designed spaces, or read more of my story as a designer.

-Anna

Follow along for more design inspiration: @annalawrence.design