1) How did you first get into design?

When I was a kid I got Atari computer for Christmas from my parents and me and one other kid started this crew called “The Crack Connection” and we used to make these intros and demos on floppy disks which we then swapped with other friends in Europe and the States. Really simple stuff really, image and scrolling text giving shout outs to other crews. I remember skipping school and fucking around with that all the time. I used to hate school so after high school I had no interest in continuing that path and started working crappy jobs for a couple of years. In ‘97 I got interested in design again when using my girlfriends old PC so she bought me my first Mac. The main reason I think was because she got so tired of me using her PC.

2) What is the design scene like in Iceland? Would you say it’s in a league of its own?

Iceland has got some amazing designer and I’ve had the privilege to have worked with many of Iceland’s great legends. People who I looked up to and inspired me to get into design in the first place. Iceland has so many things to offer in terms of creativity. We just need to look around and inhale the amazing landscape all around us. You have to visit Iceland to fully understand how much Iceland it self is a factor in what all the people who made a name for themselves, whether it’s designers, musicians or artists.

3) You started “Systm” together with Oscar Bjarnason, how did you hook up?

I meet Oscar when I started working at McCann Erickson in 2001. He came up with the Systm idea, a place for us to showcase our personal projects.Oscar is a good friend and a seriously good designer. He eats, sleeps and breaths branding. Oscar quit McCann and started working at Fiton where I followed a year later but I quit there early ‘08 and been freelancing since.

4) What was the inspiration behind the name “Systm”?

Because we thought it was cool.

5) Your halftone series is truly amazing; how do you normally start on a piece?

Thank you, I’m really happy how it has turned out. I usually start by browsing the internet, looking for materials or elements. It’s after I start on the piece that the real idea comes to live. What people see as a finished piece most of the time isn’t what the idea was to make originally. I go from the original idea to something totally different just based on the stuff I find or what the design I’m working on evolves in to. The topics are things that I find inspiring, urban art, graffiti, cultural icons, music or movies. The outcome is something that I find interesting, surreal, funny and even political.

6) You had the great opportunity to design a cover for Goldie’s new album, what was Goldie like as a client?

We had a rough start I can tell you that. We’re still working together on various Metalheadz stuff. Goldie is an artist himself and we just try to combine our ideas together. But as a designer/artist the hardest clients are other designer/artist.

7) Besides design, what else do you like to do?

Else? There is nothing else.

8) You do a lot of interior design work such as custom wallpaper designs to large wall canvases; do you believe that home interior should be minimal?

It all depends on each person, I cannot imagine my grandmother’s home with minimal interior design or a design at all. All design should take in what the person is all about so you would feel comfortable at your own home.

9) Do you prefer working with digital media or working on canvas?

Digital media. It’s much cleaner and less messy.

10) What are the tools or applications you use the most?

I started using Freehand back in the day and I used to think Illustrator was shit to be honest. But when it became clear that Freehand wasn’t gonna be updated I switched to Illustrator, purely out of necessity. I can’t wait to try out Illustrator CS4. Illustrator gets kinda crappy when working with text. So I use InDesign for all the layouts I do and Photoshop for all image enhancements. I’ve got quite the big music collection so iTunes is a must. I also use all kinds of scripts to tag music the way I like.

11) Where do you mostly get your ideas from?

Everything that surrounds us is inspirational and I think it’s important for every designer to check out designer books and of course browse the design portals. Whoever said that browsing the internet was a waste of time can go F-himself. So basically the things that surround me is what inspires me to keep creating. Whether it’s music or something visual. I’ve always been a huge fan of artists from many different backgrounds and styles. Such as: Andy Warhol, Erro, Futura, Delta, Goldie, Kaws and Jose Parla.

12) What type of music do you listen to when you work?

Drum & Bass and some Dubstep.

13) What would you say is the most frustrating part of being a designer?

Having stupid clients that don’t know shit about what’s good and what’s bad. The only reason you have to put up with their shit is because you need the money to pay the bills.

14) What plans do you have for the future?

I’m currently working on my first private gallery exhibition. I’m also working on expanding my art onto T-shirts. I’m really excited how it’s coming along.

Any final words?

Keep it up & keep it real!