Goddur 1955-2026

We at the Iceland Academy of the Arts mourn our dear friend Guðmundur Odd Magnússon, Godd, who passed away in an accident on January 3rd.

Goddur was awarded the title of Honorary Professor at the Department of Design at the University of the Arts last year for his exceptional contribution to fine art, graphic design and education in the fields of culture and art in Iceland and internationally. The influence of his work is far-reaching and has shaped generations of designers and artists in Iceland. He was a popular teacher and lecturer and aware of the importance of professional public debate about arts and design for the cultural identity of a nation.

Goddur studied fine arts at the Icelandic School of Arts and Crafts and later graphic design at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, where he worked for a while as a designer, but returned to Iceland where he became a key figure in the development of design education for the next few decades. He was head of the department of graphic design at the Icelandic School of Arts and Crafts and then the first director of graphic design at the Department of Design and Architecture at the Academy of the Arts when the school was founded. Goddur was a professor of graphic design for a long time and became the first research professor at the school in his last years, where he focused on an extensive project, Vision in Context (1844 – 1944), which had received a grant from the Science and Technology Council Research Fund and was hosted at the Academy of the Arts. His art and design works have been published in numerous publications and exhibitions in Iceland and abroad. Through his research, lectures, writings and participation in discussions on design, art and culture, Goddi succeeded in highlighting the importance of visual aspects of cultural history. With his eloquence, deep knowledge and passion for the subjects, he easily reached the uninitiated and the educated. With his passing, the cultural environment in Iceland will be poorer. Finally, the staff and former and current students of the Academy of the Arts thank Goddi for his support and send their deepest condolences to Goddi's family and friends.