Today rounds up our third and final post on Iceland (click here and here for the first two posts). Next month we head stateside for our next design roundup, but I hope you’ve enjoyed your mini exploration of Iceland and have been able to check out some of the sites of these incredible designers. And if you’re ready to hop on the next plane to Iceland, I totally encourage you to do so (just be warned it is an island and isn’t cheap!). Besides a trip down Laugavegur (the main shopping street) or a visit to the breathtaking Blue Lagoon, events like Iceland Airwaves music festival (incredible acts at a variety of venues from cafes to museums all around the city), Sequences Real Time Arts Festival or the Reykjavik Ars Festival may be just the excuse you’re looking for. But for now, click here to see the final group of featured artists. [Thanks again to all the wonderful artists who participated!] -anne

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last week we introduced the new d*s “regional roundup” column with part 1, so i thought it only fair to explain a bit about why i chose iceland to start. i must admit, i knew very little about iceland except it was an island in the north atlantic. then, essentially on a whim, i took advantage of icelandair’s free stopovers on my way back from europe and decided to see what reykjavik was all about. granted i only stayed for 24 hours, but in that short time i saw so much (it helps that it’s not a very big place) and was completely blown away by the incredible mix of natural beauty that surrounded me, and the design I saw in the city (you can see my first impressions here). it was fresh, forward and unlike any place i had ever been. the trip left me wanting to know more, and today i’m excited to share the second group of designers. stay tuned for the final installment of icelandic designers next tuesday and more great reasons to check out iceland for yourself. to view today’s full post click here or just click “read more” below. -anne

[Today is the first installment of a new column created by D*S contributing editor, Anne Ditmeyer of Prêt à Voyager. Her love of travel and design has been incredibly inspiring for me and I hope you’ll enjoy her new column as much as I have]

When Grace invited me to start my own column, I immediately knew it had to be something than incorporated my two passions: design and travel. As a kid I grew up in DC, Minnesota, Kansas, Idaho and Virginia (now I live in Baltimore), and my college experience was not without a semester in Paris, and a second semester on a ship around the world. There’s no doubt in my mind that each experience has rubbed off on me, and it got me thinking how we are influenced by “place” and where we live.

Each month we will be exploring a new place and looking at the artists who live there and the work they produce. Every installment will feature a different place – US or international, expected or unexpected – where you’ll meet various creatives and see what they have to say about where they live and what inspires them. Who knows, maybe by the end of it, you’ll be on the next plane out of town, or at the minimum it allows us all to travel vicariously for a little bit of our day.

So without future ado, our first (of 3 posts) regional roundup: Iceland. Stay tuned for part 2 next Tuesday to find out more about Iceland (why I chose it to start this column) and about more fabulous artists and designers. Click here for our first batch (or just click “read more” below)! -anne