The rich biodiversity in the sea around Iceland. The importance of fishing throughout the centuries. The tough life of a fisherman. The many techniques used to catch fish from the sea. The boats. How fishing determines Iceland’s identity. And the social aspect: how everyone on Iceland is more or less involved in fishing.
On view
Fishing
for Stories
Maritime Museum, Reykjavík (IS)
In an old fish factory in Reykjavík – the capital of Iceland – you will find the National Maritime Museum. For this museum we designed the permanent exhibition Fish and Folk – 150 Years of Fisheries. In this exhibition you can follow the fish from the bottom of the sea, through the net of an Icelandic fisherman to the fish factory, until finally it ends up on your plate. It’s an exhibition that appeals to a wide audience, both locals and tourists. And everything revolves around fish.

For the design of this exhibition we worked with materials from the fishing industry. The design language is derived from the factory. You see fish crates as showcases and real stockfish hanging to dry. The white tiled walls of the factory double as a projection screen for films about the fishing industry. Or take a seat in a real forklift truck and play a game with the pedals and the steering wheel.


In the middle of the story, the sea becomes the land. Blue turns brown. An intimate place has been created here with an archive that has been made accessible especially for the exhibition. Every Icelander has lost one or more family members at sea. You can look up their names and leave a message for them. In this way, the museum becomes a public memorial.

‘For the wayfinding and infographics, we created a strong but minimal style that fits the industrial scenery.’
Robin Schijfs
Designer – KDJ

Grand Prix Award 2019
Permanent Exhibition, silver