As a talented painter he became a member of the illustrious Kees Verwey group from Haarlem. After his profession, his creativity eventually culminated in a career as a designer. Started with making copies of furniture for catalogs of furniture manufacturers. That’s how jan gets in touch with the design world. Furniture first and later light’s.

Anvia came in the picture in the early fifties when he met Ilse Liebert in Utrecht. From that moment on, a long-term cooperation starts. Anvia is a regular customer for he designed a yearly new collection up to the early eighties. Jan Hoogervorst travels all over the world to gain inspiration.