Today we’d like to introduce you to Kickie Chudikova.
Hi Kickie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia in an old modernist house built by a renowned architect in the 1930s that previously belonged to a painter. When my parents moved in in the 70s, the walls had a lot of dark saturated colors. They have brightened it up, furnished nicely with anything you could get in a post soviet country. Up to this date, the furnishing has never changed since they moved in – red floral carpets, yellow walls, orange pendant lights, green kitchen cabinets. Each room has a color and most of the furniture too. I grew up surrounded by color and love using it a lot in my work.
My father was a civil engineer and we always had a project in the house to work on, repairing or improving something. My mom has a lot of style in clothing and is great in decorating the house in the most creative ways. I am sure this influenced my aesthetics and thinking and my urge to become a designer. I never wanted to be anything else.
There has been a few significant moments in my design career trajectory – from studying Industrial Design in Vienna, Austria with Hartmut Esslinger, founder of frog design – and a design legend well known for his work for Apple in the 80s. Then moving to New York to work with Karim Rashid, developing products and furniture for top furniture and lighting brands before starting my own studio in 2020 in Brooklyn.
Within my practice, there has been a few highlights already – Spiral of Life public bench installed in Dumbo being one of the most significant, along with the Insectum furniture line debuted in Milan, or Boon Glasses being sold at the MoMa Design Store.
I aim to bring joy to people with my designs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It is not easy to move to a new country without knowing anyone, or the culture or the language properly. Such situations can be quite demanding, both personally and professionally. Personally, I have experienced this firsthand when I relocated to Austria and lived in Milan, Italy to study at the Politecnico for a year. Nevertheless, my decision to move to New York proved to be the most significant leap – and I took it as a chance to reinvent myself. When you come someplace totally new, you get a chance to start fresh – and I find that so revitalizing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have started Kickie Chudikova Studio in 202o, with the aim to design products, furniture, lights and objects that not only function but also uplift people’s spirits by its aesthetics.
I believe things that are well-designed and easy to use have lasting value since those are the ones to be kept and appreciated by the next generations rather than replaced.
I am known for using a lot of color in my life/work and my organic yet minimal design language.
“Minimal with a twist” I always strive to bring something new to the market, unseen and pleasantly surprising at the same time.
As a designer, my goal is to create joyful experiences, uplifting and inspiring people through the means of creation. I believe design has the power to innovate, bring change and make a lasting impact on our society and the world. I see design as a transformative tool, shaping our perception and interaction with the world.
By carefully considering functionality, purpose, and aesthetics, I aim to create designs that not only serve a practical cause but also ignite curiosity and spark conversations. Balancing my expertise in Industrial Design & Craft, I explore new techniques, materials, and technologies to push boundaries and introduce fresh perspectives to the field.
I am very proud of my public seating installation – Spiral of Life shown in Dumbo, along with the Insectum furniture line that debuted in Milan.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Picking porcini mushrooms in the forests of central Slovakia. My grandpa was born in a village that is now a national park. I love being in nature and the joy of finding a mushroom is hard to put into words. I used to spend summers there when I was a kid and love to return to those memories.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kickiechudikova.com
- Instagram: @kickie.chudikova
- Facebook: @KickieChudikovaStudio
Image Credits
Nicholas Kuhn Mathew Carasella Lukas Doenz
