When it comes to interior design, TVs are a bit of a conundrum. Furniture and wall art create a specific aesthetic, but then suddenly you throw a rectangle of black plastic and glass into the space and the design flow is totally interrupted (which is exactly why an entire industry exists to create furniture that hides TVs). But Swiss designer Yves Béhar decided to take a different approach: make a TV that actually looks like a work of art.
"A home is an expression of personal taste, functional needs, and interests. Every piece of furniture, every work of art on the wall, every object, becomes part of an aesthetic and style. The television is no exception," says Béhar about why he decided to collaborate with Samsung on his latest project—a smart television called The Frame.
With a low-energy display that uses sensors and mirrors to detect lighting and movement in the room, The Frame has all of the bells and whistles of a top-of-the-line smart TV. But added to that is the fact that, when not in use, the display goes into "Art Mode," a function that showcases a curated collection of prints, drawings, photography, and paintings. And it's all encased in design that looks more like a picture frame than a TV.
Essentially, The Frame is meant to function as a framed work of art, only one that also allows you to binge watch your latest television obsession. It's like Netflix and Picasso has a baby. And it isn't just random pictures either. Samsung has enlisted the help of internationally acclaimed curator Elise Van Middelem and partnered with a host of renowned artists who will exhibit their work in a digital gallery created exclusively for this TV.
But more than just displaying art, the aesthetic of the TV itself is a work of art, and it flows seamlessly with the interior design of a room. "Just adding art works to a TV wasn't the solution," says Béhar. "Instead we designed the future of displays in the home." It's a design that includes digital matting in ultra high-definition and a customizable physical bezel in white, black, and wood veneer.
To get the look right, Béhar and Samsung consulted expert framers from some of the most prestigious museums in the world. And the result is a TV that will actually improve your interior space rather than detract from it. Works of art displayed from a work of art in your work of art. Not bad for a device that also lets you watch Game of Thrones.
