About Wout
It’s all about the sculpural quality for Wout, whether he designs a chair or makes a pair of shoes. The wealthy history of design is a source of inspiration. Constantly associating and combining existing forms, there is a new design in everything. Not ostentatious but clear cut, aware of the connection to the user. Things can always be better and smarter. He creates objects with imagination with a strong grasp on its core material. To the last detail, with a nod because there is a striking detail in every design.
What is it Wout creates?
The mailsorting desk for the American tax service IRS, product development for Pastoe, his first chair design added to the Artifort/Lande collection for which he later made Toro, and pieces of furniture in own management. A quirky men’s shoe with a small ecological footprint, an elegant ladies pump with an expressive heel. His creations are not only produced in series but executed as unique custom made pieces as well. Each new product is created in his studio. Curious for other products from this studio? Check the different sections on this website. Some products are directly available in the webshop!
- Art: expression
- Shoes: bespoke, custom made shoes (Interested, please contact me)
- Furniture: seating & interior products
- Webshop: for sale!
Who is Wout?
Wout Speyers (1968 Nijmegen, the Netherlands) studied Architecture and Industrial Design Engineering at the University of Technology in Delft, the Netherlands. Both specialties were needed in his graduation project of 1996; he designed the museum for historic posters at the Spuiplein subway station in the Hague, which is still in use (images IPG). At Neonis Industrial Design he discovered his love for furniture while working on the Personal Furniture System, PFS. In the USA he further specialized in casegoods and cabinetry as Director of Product Development for Goelst USA Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC. The mailsorting desk he developed for the IRS is still being used by thousands of federal employees in the USA (images Goelst work).
Once back in the Netherlands Wout started to work for the product development department of Pastoe, a famous hundred year old company. Pastoe specializes in cabinetry. He worked on realisation of the Maarten van Severen chairs and redesigned the low-board Frame.
Since 2008 Wout has succesfully designed tables, chairs and sofas in his studio.
In 2019 a long-cherished dream came true when he started the education Artisanal Shoemaking at the René van den Berg Academy. Right after finishing his first shoe commissions followed for ladies and men’s shoes.
Recognition and awards
The first chair he created became part of the Artifort/Lande product line and the so called UN tables finished as runner up in the Montis/Elle Decoration Design Talent Award in 2010.
With the Twister coatrack he reached the finals of the W.H. Gispen competition for Dutch Originals in 2014.
In Chicago, USA, Wout received two times the 2015 Gold Award - Best of Neocon for Cheval. The design for HBF was rewarded in the category 'benches' as well as in the category 'occasional tables'. On top of that Cheval got the Buildings Product Innovations Merit Award, The Architectural Products Magazine Product's Innovation Award and The Architect's Newspaper's Best of Product Award. (images Cheval).
The polished stainless steel sculptures of the 'Little Wing' series have been exhibited thee years in a row at the Coelhorst Art Event.
His first pump ‘Musica è’ and his second pump ‘Driving home for X-mas’ are included in the Virtual Shoe Museum as well as on the global Page-a-Day shoe calender (Workman Publishing) 2023 & 2024.
Wout participated in the 9th edition of the ‘Craft the Leather’ event organized by the Consorzio Vera Pelle and, after the presentation at Lineapelle ’23 in Milano, received both the audience award and the professional jury award with rave reviews, among others 'Poetry meets craftmanship'.
At The Global Footwear Awards 2023 his shoe / slipper ‘One Shoe (fits all) achieved a distinguished winning placement, with three wins; Winner in MEN’S FASHION & NATURAL MATERIAL FOOTWEAR and Overall Winner in SUSTAINABILITY
Following the Global Footwear Awards, D5 Design Magazine published an interview that can be read here.
(Photo: Eleberth Pot)
