HLJÓÐHIMNAR

ÞYKJÓ’s design team lead the design process for a new permanent music installation for kids and their families on the ground floor of Harpa.

Hljóðhimnar is a play on the Icelandic word for Ear drum – Hljóðhimna – which then translates directly as Sound Worlds. The installation is an invitation to experience the vast world of music and sound, without any previous knowledge or education needed.

This project is a multidisciplinary collaboration with Gagarín, Vísindasmiðjan, the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, The Icelandic Opera, Reykjavík Big Band, Maxímus Músikús and Reykjavík Audio.

“Behind Hljóðhimnar” is a family friendly exhibition during DesignMarch, illustrating the design process behind Hljóðhimnar.

In July 2021 ÞYKJÓ’s designer invited over 100 children to Harpa and take part in workshops to explore the magic of sound with the designers in ÞYKJÓ and Vísindasmiðjan educational science lab. Together they explored the science behind soundwaves, how they move the air – and how music moves us. The collaboration and conversation with the children is the foundation on which ÞYKJÓ’s design work is subsequently based.

About ÞYKJÓ

ÞYKJÓ is an interdisciplinary design project for children and their families in the fields of textile, toy and experiential design.
ÞYKJÓ (pronounced thickyo) is the Icelandic noun for make-believe. Our design projects aim to stimulate the imagination and creativity of children during free play.

Through a careful selection of materials and forms, ÞYKJÓ takes into consideration how the senses are stimulated through their designs, including motor development, sense of balance and sense of touch. ÞYKJÓ organizes versatile art workshops, installations and events in collaboration with museums and cultural institutions.

Behind ÞYKJÓ is a group of diverse designers who apply different fields of expertise in their collaborative work. Among ÞYKJÓ’s designers are an architect, a fashion designer and bespoke tailer, a children’s culture designer and a scenography designer. The team collaborates closely with artists, scientists, scholars within the field of pedagogy, and last but not least with children.

In the summer of 2021 Þykjó officially founded their KRAKKARÁÐ ÞYKJÓ, translating as “ÞYKJÓ’s kids consulting panel”. Krakkaráð honors the 12th article of Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring that grown-ups listen to children’s voices and respect their views.

Krakkaráð is ever changing – as is the nature of childhood as a transitional phase. Kids pass through – some for one ÞYKJÓ project, others for more than one project. The panel varies in size and age range based on each project, ÞYKJÓ often works with school groups or kindergartens, other times with individuals or families. ÞYKJÓ’s designers see Krakkaráð akin to a choir, the members might change, but it is a platform for kids to express themselves and have their voices heard.