Samsung South Africa announces Top Four Candidates for #MyBespokeHomeChallenge 2022

Samsung South Africa announces Top Four Candidates

for #MyBespokeHomeChallenge 2022

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 12 October 2022 – Announced at Decorex Cape Town in June this year, with a focus on channelling and testing the unique design perspective of South African youth – Samsung has revealed the top four (4) candidates for its sought-after, ultimate home challenge: the #MyBespokeChallenge.

The four (4) interior designers that have been selected for this year’s #MyBespokeChallenge – will compete by conceiving and building their own BESPOKE Home “Space” using the BESPOKE colour range as the hero in their space, allowing them to showcase their unique, local design styles and talent. These incredible, young creators are now challenged to create a local design concept based on a BESPOKE colour, and showcase their own BESPOKE space, from a kitchen, living area, study – transforming any home space with the highly-customised BESPOKE Refrigerator range.

What sets a Samsung BESPOKE refrigerator apart is its customisable and interchangeable front panel design, modularity that allows you to choose and add the optimal storage configurations to suit your needs, and a sleek, modern look that fits seamlessly into any kitchen. The top four (4) candidates were selected through a rigorous entry process and were narrowed down from 11 young, up-and-coming designers.

Ecstatic about being chosen, see below what the #MyBespokeChallenge 2022 finalists representing their provinces, had to say about their opportunity to participate in this exciting challenge:

• Keneilwe Mothoa – owner of Neimil (Gauteng) – focuses on interior decorating, fashion and the love of art. Design language – loves telling African stories and integrating these into every design to make it functional for any person living in a home.

Inspired by African heritage and culture and marrying this with modern and western inspirations. Her designs are based on African research and focus on the history for the future. Keneilwe’s designs are from the heart – they are based on what she feels is right. However, she also understands – just like Samsung – that every person consumes products/spaces differently and uses them in their own specific way. She designs for both functionality and aesthetics, capturing all the senses: touch and feel to name a few.

• Zwelibanzi Nzuza (Kwa-Zulu Natal) – Final year design student that entered the competition to showcase and communicate his creative vision.

He sees this challenge as a great opportunity to meet and learn from other young, up-and-coming designers. Also, he believes it is a privilege to be critiqued and guided by design judges that he respects in South Africa. His design philosophy is based on vision, inspiration and a leap of faith. He is very adventurous in his designs and often looks at results that inspire people beyond the norm. What sets him apart is his willingness to explore, expand himself in every project and produce something fresh at all times.

• Maresa Maartens (Gauteng) – Honour’s Degree Design student who started understanding the true meaning of art during her journey through studying. Inspired by a quote from designer and architect, Adrian Cohen:

“Designers have a unique ability to interpret reality with the capacity to look at problems in different ways and present solutions.” Maresa is convinced that design can contribute to driving innovation, create value and develop workable solutions to tough social issues and sees the BESPOKE challenge as an opportunity to do just that. She is adamant that when designing, it is important to create rooms that feel like sanctuaries, where people can find ease of use, comfort, durability and low maintenance. She believes in design solutions and spaces that make users want to slow down and those that make them feel good mentally and physically.

• Mbali Maseko (Gauteng) – Inspired by the diversity and richness of Africa through multiple cultures. South Africa – the Rainbow Nation with 11 official languages – each with its own textiles and patterns. She believes in the importance of representing all of this in a global scale.

She is proud to be part of a young generation that is fearless, bold through social media and collaborations with big brands. Design manifesto – is personal, distinctive and unique to each individual hence the phrase: “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” and her design preference is minimalistic with a touch of personality. For Mbali, a BESPOKE home should be personal to whoever is using or living in it. Mbali believes that going forward design should be minimalistic with a touch of Africa. She would like to add a touch of Africa to any beautiful, personal and BESPOKE home.

The entry process for the challenge was driven from social media and encouraged interested interior decorators to enter by providing an image of each designer, a two-to-four minute video on why they should be considered for the challenge as well as a mood boards reflecting their interpretation of a #BESPOKE Home. The young designers have the privilege of being mentored by influencer and media personality, Jo-Ann Strauss and #MyBespokeChallenge 2021 Winner, Cassandra Twala as part of their unique journey of designing and creating kitchen/living spaces that reflect Samsung’s vision for customised and connected homes.

The judging panel for this year’s #MyBespokeChallenge includes some South African heavy weights in the design space: Anita Bloom, the Creative Director at Decorex Africa. The Samsung BESPOKE Home Challenge is hosted by JoAnn Strauss and can be viewed online on www.samsung.com/za/ Ts & Cs apply.