VANTOT

VANTOT = SAM VAN GURP x ESTHER JONGSMA VANTOT is the collective title for the works of Esther Jongsma and Sam van Gurp. Both Eindhoven based designers graduated at Design Academy Eindhoven. Operating from The Netherlands VANTOT focuses on autonomous product design and commissioned work. In 2014, Esther Jongsma (1990, Utrecht) and Sam van Gurp (1990, Breda) launched their own design studio called VANTOT. Esther and Sam both graduated from the Design academy Eindhoven in 2008-2009. Esther is outgoing and looks at her designs from a broad perspective: "I love to work with many people from different disciplines". Besides working on her own design collections, Esther also works as a project manager and coordinator for multiple projects and has already gained considerable experience in the design and realisation of exhibitions. Sam, in many ways, is the polar opposite of Esther and focuses on business development to the tiniest detail. Besides that, he is a real creator and a technician who loves to deal with progressive design questions. The designs of studio VANTOT all encompass a certain complexity. For example, the pendant lamp series Exploded View and Limpid Lights. These series allow for the adjustment of the intensity of light and colour by moving the light source in the hood. Besides that, there is the Passage Carpet that creates intriguing optical effects by means of an intricate geometric pattern of layered wood as you walk by. According to Sam, who is often inspired by engineering works and ingenious movement mechanisms, the studio likes "to experiment with movement and new interpretations of familiar features". Furthermore, as explained by Esther, VANTOT aims "to involve the user differently”.