Introducing our 14th issue, which celebrates a new approach to travel and fashion in a post-pandemic world. The “slow” movement – encompassing slow travel and slow fashion – is redefining both industries. HERDES is embracing this philosophy and lifestyle, valuing quality and savoir-faire over fast and irresponsible consumerism.
To embody this philosophy, we have embraced the concept of slow-reading, where each issue is individually designed and produced to suit its content and destination. With a book format and an exquisite finish, we surpass the conventional standards of periodicals. Our goal is to create a collector’s item for the most discerning bookshelves and coffee tables.
Our new Icelandic Issue marks the start of this new concept, where slow-travel is central to the experience. Iceland offers the opportunity to explore its regions, culture, language, traditions, way of life, gastronomy, products, and stunning environment at a relaxed pace.
Iceland’s climate and geography make it a complex country with incredible natural beauty. Its customs are unique and fascinating – the descendants of Vikings, Icelanders are strong, rigid, and exceptionally clean. Water is a vital element in their lives, a source of life, surrounded by it, and used in thermal baths thanks to the volcanic geography.
Due to the extreme climate, Icelanders are homebodies, often spending their social life at home – reading, and doing artistic activities. This has resulted in a wealth of artistic and design talent. In this issue, we showcase some of these talents and the natural and beautiful corners of Iceland, as well as the cosmopolitan side of its capital.
Halfdan Pedersen
Hálfdan Lárus Pedersen is an Icelandic-born creative director (Reykjavik, 1972), trained in cinematography in Los Angeles and, art and production director in Hollywood. Despite his work in the American dream machine, his biggest and most exciting adventure has been as the lead designer of Baulhús, a house in the remote fishing village of Flateyri, in the West Fjords of Iceland where he now lives part-time with his 3 children. He found the house in 2004 while filming a documentary about an annual rock music festival, Aldrei Fór Ég Suður, in 2004.
Flateyri is an idyllic and secluded location, embraced by a landscape of mountains in the background and the open sea. Baulhús was a completely uninhabited and dilapidated house. Halfdan, with no knowledge of house reconstruction but fascinated by the tranquility that reigned and the friendliness of the inhabitants, began to restore the house with only recycled materials, and it has taken him 10 years to complete it. A strong advocate of sustainability, recycling and craftsmanship, nature has provided him with the perfect setting, like a movie, and he, together with his friends, has reborn a home in which each and every one of its components tells a story and gives meaning and usefulness to the space.
Read the whole interview in The Icelandic Issue.
DESIGN INSIDERS
Hanna Dis
Hanna Dís is an artist of form and colour. Her work is based on the reinvention of classic everyday gadgets, which she updates and embellishes, but without changing their primary function.
Designer Hanna Dís Whitehead received her doctorate from the Eindhoven Design Academy in 2011. As a child she had no interest in art, even though her mother was an artist Hanna always thought of becoming a surgeon.
As she says, she is quite productive and loves to work, so her production is very abundant and she has a lot of works: mugs, candle holders, coat racks, vases, decorative crafts,… all works of art but which you can use for the purpose for which they were made.
Roman Bratschi
Inspired by natural shapes, forms and patterns, Roman Bratschi is an experienced 3D illustrator and animation director, who kick-started his career as a graphic designer. With 15 years of artistic expertise under his creativity belt, his career path transformed as he began to tamper in alternative illustrative methods.
Equipped with an effortless expert eye for complementary colours and an illustrious innovative mind, his appreciation for elements in their organic forms weave through the narrative of his techniques, exposing their natural simplicity in the final piece. He is always experimenting with new methods and dexterities in 3D software to exercise his creative ideas.
Roman’s list of prestigious clients includes Apple, Swarovski, Essie, Ray-Ban, Spotify, LG and many more.
