Iceland review - 2015, Síða 12

10 ICELAND REVIEW
M
iss Maddy has a voice that can
halt a tsunami. She can also
create falling stars. Mr. Tree is
everyone’s favorite agony uncle
with the talent to turn tears
into diamonds. Bubble can talk to flow-
ers and animals and Fred, the squid-ink
black dog, is mischievous. Last but not
least, Gloomy can become invisible and is
afraid of nothing. Welcome to the charac-
ters of Tulipop, a captivating and colorful
world of magic and possibility.
“We wanted a name that was quirky
and fun,” says head designer Signý
Kolbeinsdóttir. “Tulips are my favorite
flowers and it also reminded us of lolli-
pops and pop art. Visually, the shapes of
the letters have lots of soft, round shapes
and we really liked that.” She and Tulipop
CEO, Helga Árnadóttir, met in a café as
teenagers. “Signý was sitting sketching,
which isn’t surprising as she’s always had
a sketch pad with her,” says Helga of her
best friend and business partner.
They created Tulipop in 2010 and
today it’s a growing brand of charac-
ter goods with international appeal. The
range of everyday products—from pencil
cases, cutlery and dishes, to magnets and
backpacks—is sold online, at retailers in
Iceland and can also be found in over 20
BY MICA ALLAN. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TULIPOP.
TURNING TULIPS
INTO POP ART
stores in the UK. Youngsters are drawn
to the clear, bright designs, women like
the pencil cases to keep makeup in, and
bachelors have bought the Mr. Tree lamp
for their living rooms. There’s also a
newly-launched mobile app game in both
Icelandic and English, where little ones
can learn the alphabet both visually and
phonetically.
“The message we want to give people
is ‘Be as you like,’ it’s okay to be different
and that nobody’s perfect,” Helga says in
reference to the characters they have cre-
ated. In their design, the imaginative duo
have drawn on their childhood inspira-
tions, including the Moomins, Hello Kitty
and Pippy Longstocking—and used their
own vibrant imaginations. The exuber-
ant personalities of their creations even
share some characteristics with their own
families: for example, Signý’s uncle is an
avid collector with a love for philosophy
and history—certain traits that Mr. Tree
possesses.
Having recently grown into a team of
five, Tulipop’s creative development is just
starting. Helga and Signý are excited at
the prospect of developing the range into
cartoons, films and books, and venturing
into many more colorful adventures in the
land of Tulipop. *
Best friends and business partners,
Helga Árnardóttir (left) and
Signý Kolbeins dóttir, have created
a beguiling and beautiful world called
Tulipop that captures the imagination
of both children and adults.
DESIGN