Øystein Johan Østby

was born in Lillehammer, Norway in 1971. His hometown is Kongsvinger, but he is now living in Oslo.

He is a trained goldsmith from Bergen Vocational School and a product designer from the Akershus University College, Faculty of Product Design. From the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education, he has a Teacher Education with specialization in Arts and Crafts. Besides this, he has a year of product development and business at Glåmdal Ressurs- og Kompetansesenter at Kongsvinger.

In 1998 to 1999, Mr. Østby was employed by David-Andersen AS as a product development coordinator for the "Maria" jewellery and the gold collection of Millie Behrens.

Since 2001, he has been teaching at Vestre Aker skole i Oslo, a school for youth of the age of 13 - 16 years, focusing on social and emotional problems. He is the master of the Metal class, where the pupils are working primarily in aluminium and silver.