VAN TUIL

Feature Article

Tasmania, Australia

A small design studio, on a small island, at the edge of the world.

Scott van Tuil, the founder of VAN TUIL Design Studio, was born into a family of makers. He grew up believing his father could build anything and was constantly admiring the form of the many boats being dissected and reassembled in the backyard. “I became obsessed with boat plans, lofted lines and a curiosity for what made some proportions beautiful,” Scott recalls. When his grandparents migrated to Tasmania from The Netherlands, they built their own home, business and life on the little island with an attitude of self-sufficiency. It is safe to say that these family traits of determination and artistry, along with Scott’s skills and passion for design have led to the manifestation of VAN TUIL today. Growing up and now working in Tasmania is something Scott relishes as quite a privilege. It is a special place where one will find extensive sources of inspiration from rich cultural heritage to the diverse landscapes and wild oceans. Scott’s work is also influenced by his admiration for the Modernist movement and its commitment to optimism, as he states, “I think this is what I love most about design – it is by definition optimistic; always striving for better.” In regard to successful design, Scott states, “I think good design appears effortless, even though you know it can’t have been,” which is something he doubtlessly communicates through his streamline collection of furniture and objects. The simplicity of each piece he builds holds a certainty that gives people a feeling of comfort, whilst inviting them to appreciate the decisions that went into the process of creating them.