The winner of the HOME + Samsung Bespoke Fridge Design Challenge is Hungarian-born Kiwi Erika Horvath Gaborovna. We spoke to Erika about design influences, art, and aspirations for her new home.
HOME: Can you tell us about your design process?
Erika Horvath Gaborovna: I’m a graphic designer so I work with colour and design every day. Even though I’m working with digital files, I always like to start with drawing and sketching by hand. I think that is because of my upbringing in Hungary, where there is a real focus on handmade and hand-drawn work, and that has always influenced the way I design and create.
My artwork is one of playful shapes and hand-drawn sketchy leaves. I wanted to create something that was fun, and full of character and joy.
What are you exploring right now in your creative work?
In the past I have enjoyed minimalism, but at the moment I’m interested in embracing maximalism. As a designer, my mind always goes first to colour. For me, maximalism is about having fun and letting your own personality and character be at the forefront; there’s a freedom in maximalism.
How does your design for the Samsung Bespoke fridge fit into the aesthetic of your home?
I recently bought a house that I am redecorating, starting with bold maximalism expressed through colour. I want to create an environment of joy so, with the Samsung Bespoke Fridge design, I considered that premise. The fridge is such a large surface that until now we haven’t really been able to utilise it as a design object. This design seeks to embody individuality in a maximalist aesthetic, turning the fridge into a centrepiece of interior design.
The finalists
Cari Hill
Anawhata Flax Flowers
This is a photograph taken from a lookout at the West Auckland beach of Anawhata, near Piha, and is a reminder of the natural and native beauty that surrounds us everywhere in Aotearoa. The black and white contrast of the flax flowers silhouetted against a rugged west coast beach is simple and decorative.
Carmel Van Der Hoeven
Endless Days
Endless Days is one of the works created for an upcoming exhibition of mine, Mortal Dreams. The pieces in the exhibition, including this one, were created to be an echo of our world — something that appears recognisable at first glance but upon closer inspection is unreal, dreamlike.
Bridget Harding
Cool Your Stripes
Painted using acrylics on canvas, this piece depicts a zebra peering out from the dark. It embodies the concepts of: bold, genuine, contemporary, and playful. The name Cool Your Stripes was inspired by the clean lines and monochrome palette of the zebra.
Megan Prendergrast
Florence
This floral design mixes a classic black and white style with a contemporary feel to evoke a sense of serenity and whimsy. It took its inspiration from finding profound beauty and art in day-to-day life.
Visit samsung.com or homemagazine.nz/samsungbespoke to find out more about the Samsung Bespoke French-Door Fridge, which is available now from samsung.com and select retailers.
