Jón Helgi is a Reykjavík-based designer and artist known for his environmentally conscious, minimalist and interactive approach. Jón’s work combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, merging the beauty and imperfections of natural materials with the precision of advanced manufacturing methods.
Jón's work has earned him accolades such as the Icelandic Design Awards and the Red Dot Design Awards, and features in prominent publications like Wired and Dwell. His extensive portfolio spans furniture, packaging, software, interiors, and technology products.
Formerly a lead designer at Genki Instruments—a startup dedicated to innovating technology for musicians—Jón has shifted his focus to more personalized, handcrafted projects that embody the principles of slow design.
Jón’s design philosophy is deeply user-centric, focusing on creating products that enhance user interaction and experience, making everyday life both simpler and more beautiful. Continuously evolving, he is dedicated to merging environmental consciousness with creativity, aiming to find as much joy in the creation process as the end user experiences in owning and using his products.
Awards
2021. Dwell Magazine - Best upcycled product of 2020. Upcycled Side Table by FÓLK Reykjavík.
2019. The Icelandic Design Awards. Wave by Genki Instruments.
2018. Grapevine - Product of the year. Wave by Genki Instruments.
2018. Creative Business cup - Runner up. Genki Instruments.
2017. Gulleggið - Runner up. Genki Instruments.
2015. Grapevine - Looking forward to more. KRÁS Streetfood market.
2015. Grapevine - Product line of the year. Selected by Bility.
2014. Epica Awards - Shortlisted. Norðursalt.
2014. Red Dot Awards. Norðursalt.
2014. FÍT - Packaging of the year for Norðursalt.
2013. Grapevine - Looking forward to more. Jónófón.
2013. BE OPEN AWARDS - Runner up. Jónófón.
2019. The Icelandic Design Awards. Wave by Genki Instruments.
2018. Grapevine - Product of the year. Wave by Genki Instruments.
2018. Creative Business cup - Runner up. Genki Instruments.
2017. Gulleggið - Runner up. Genki Instruments.
2015. Grapevine - Looking forward to more. KRÁS Streetfood market.
2015. Grapevine - Product line of the year. Selected by Bility.
2014. Epica Awards - Shortlisted. Norðursalt.
2014. Red Dot Awards. Norðursalt.
2014. FÍT - Packaging of the year for Norðursalt.
2013. Grapevine - Looking forward to more. Jónófón.
2013. BE OPEN AWARDS - Runner up. Jónófón.
Exhibitions
2024. Hæ/Hi: Vol III Welcome. Designmarch, Iceland
2023. Hæ/Hi:Saman/Together. Seattle, USA.
2023. Krafla og Eldleiftur. DesignThing. Húsavík, Iceland.
2023. Hæ/Hi:Saman/Together. Designmarch. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2022. Og svo kemur sólin. Solo exhibition. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2021. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Genki Instruments. Designmarch. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Mikilvægar ítranir. Solo exhibition. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Genki Instruments. CES. Las Vegas, USA.
2020. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2019. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2019. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2018. Genki Instruments. VERGE: The future of music. Chicago, USA.
2018. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018. Genki Instruments. Vetrarhátíð. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2017. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2016. Krafla lightshade. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2016. Krafla lightshade. Stockholm Furniture and Light fair. Stockholm, Sweden.
2015. Krafla lightshade. Designmeile. Berlin, Germany.
2015. Krafla lightshade. Stockholm Design Week. Stockholm, Sweden.
2014. Í þínar hendur. Open workshop. Listahátíð. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014. Selected by Bility. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2013. Hryggur collection. Hring eftir Hring. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2012. Jónófón. The republic of Fritz Hansen. Milano, Italy.
2012. Jónófón. Be Open Awards. London, UK.
2012. Jónófón. Graduation exhibition from Iceland University of the Arts. Listasafn Reykjavíkur, Iceland.
2023. Hæ/Hi:Saman/Together. Seattle, USA.
2023. Krafla og Eldleiftur. DesignThing. Húsavík, Iceland.
2023. Hæ/Hi:Saman/Together. Designmarch. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2022. Og svo kemur sólin. Solo exhibition. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2021. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Genki Instruments. Designmarch. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Mikilvægar ítranir. Solo exhibition. Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík, Iceland.
2020. Genki Instruments. CES. Las Vegas, USA.
2020. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2019. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2019. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2018. Genki Instruments. VERGE: The future of music. Chicago, USA.
2018. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018. Genki Instruments. Vetrarhátíð. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2018. Genki Instruments. The NAMM Show. Los Angeles, USA.
2017. FÓLK Reykjavík. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2016. Krafla lightshade. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2016. Krafla lightshade. Stockholm Furniture and Light fair. Stockholm, Sweden.
2015. Krafla lightshade. Designmeile. Berlin, Germany.
2015. Krafla lightshade. Stockholm Design Week. Stockholm, Sweden.
2014. Í þínar hendur. Open workshop. Listahátíð. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2014. Selected by Bility. Designmarch. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2013. Hryggur collection. Hring eftir Hring. Reykjavík, Iceland.
2012. Jónófón. The republic of Fritz Hansen. Milano, Italy.
2012. Jónófón. Be Open Awards. London, UK.
2012. Jónófón. Graduation exhibition from Iceland University of the Arts. Listasafn Reykjavíkur, Iceland.
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