House of Āto

A product design studio, based in Antwerp

Āto (アート)

Āto is a word with more than one meaning. In Japanese, it translates to both art and what remains — a trace, a presence.

House of Āto is a design studio based in Antwerp, working across brand identities, products and limited editions. Our focus lies in tactility, clarity and material depth.

We design with care and precision, shaping forms and systems that last to be held, remembered and lived with.Not rushed. Not loud. But deeply felt.

House of Āto

A studio for thoughtful product and brand development.

  • Some ideas are made to be held. We help shape them into objects with presence and purpose. Products take shape through sketches, testing and refinement, moving gradually from concept to reality.

    Whether it’s a limited edition, a ritual object or a daily tool, we guide the process with care from idea to real-world form.

  • A strong identity is more than a logo. It’s how a brand looks, feels and behaves across every touchpoint. We design visual systems that are clear, consistent and made to be used, from print and packaging to digital tools.

    Whether it’s brand guidance, packaging design or a coffee table book, we build visual work that connects and lasts.

  • We use strategic design to clarify direction before anything is made. Through research, positioning and concept thinking, we align business goals with real human needs, and build strong foundations for meaningful work.

    We use experience design to shape how people interact, feel and remember. Through use of form, material and movement, we create designs that connect on a sensory level, beyond just the visual.

  • Not every idea needs a design, sometimes it just needs direction. We offer independent feedback, concept development and early-stage ideation for brands, studios or individuals.

    A focused conversation or brainstorm can move your project forward, even before anything takes shape.

Studio Services

At House of Āto we design products, identities and experiences from first spark to final form.

What we’ve been shaping

  • De Rijkste Belgen

    A 420-page coffee table book designed to present the stories of 47 Belgian billionaires.

  • Harold I Wexley

    A visual translation of Wexley’s travel gear collection, combining layout and brand alignment.

  • Yugo

    An interactive museum installation designed to initiate conversation through shared movement and wearable feedback.

  • HAY

    A passion project exploring how wearable design could live within HAY’s brand language, from sketches to materials, 3D models and final renders.

  • Strado

    A posture support system for port workers, developed through ergonomic research, prototyping and on-site testing.

  • Volvo

    A lifestyle shoot of the EX30 in the Ardennes, capturing Volvo’s presence across city streets and natural landscapes.

Design Approach

Product design doesn’t follow one path, but it always follows a structure. At Āto, we understand the natural rhythm of creating: from exploration to final launch.

These five phases reflect how products evolve and where we can step in to support.
Some projects start from scratch. Others need direction, refinement or detail.

Wherever you are in the process, we work alongside you to move the idea forward.

  • Every project begins with listening. Understanding the context, the needs, and what is already in place. This first phase sets the purpose and defines the direction forward.

    It lays the foundation on which all following decisions are built.

  • Ideas take shape through sketches, samples and narrative framing. This phase explores form, function and material, and begins to define the direction a product or identity will take.

    It is an open moment for testing, imagining and shaping possibilities.

  • Prototypes are shaped through tactile testing, iteration and feedback. This phase explores how a concept behaves in real space, through material, movement and interaction.

    It is a moment of refinement, where ideas are observed, adjusted and brought closer to reality.

  • Everything comes together through use, material, production and feel. This phase brings clarity and coherence, making sure every element supports the whole.

    The product becomes ready to launch, complete in form and function.

  • Depending on the project, the final stage may lead to limited production, brand delivery or documentation. Each edition or identity is handled with care, from packaging to storytelling.


    It is the closing step, where the work is shared and brought into context.

Inspiration