The Passionate Journey of the Self-Taught Designer Morten Stenbæk

an article written by Mona Lisa Abramovich

Morten Stenbæk, an autodidact Danish designer born in 1973, has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity. Although he began his woodworking journey in his late 30s, his love for wood’s look and feel has been a lifelong affair. From a young age, Morten was always drawing and building things. Whether it was toys or fishing gear, if he needed something and couldn’t afford it, his instinct was to build it himself. This was before the market was flooded with cheap, mass-produced items. Back in the '80s, quality came with a price tag, so he learned to create what he needed.
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As a young man, music played a significant role in Morten’s life. He was the singer and harmonica player in a blues band called Lightning Moe. They toured Northern Europe, playing around 50 gigs a year at their peak. While it wasn’t enough to make a living, it was a significant part of his identity. When he and his wife moved into their house, Morten started making furniture. His first project was a rough sofa, which eventually evolved into something much nicer. This sparked a deeper passion for furniture making, and he began designing and creating chairs.

Over the years, his hobby grew more serious. Morten invested in better tools and started selling his designs, which helped sustain his passion financially. Eventually, he left his job working with young criminals and socially challenged individuals to focus entirely on his woodworking. By 2014, he was participating in design and lifestyle fairs, and in 2016, a significant order for his Flamingo Beak dining chairs allowed him to turn his passion into a full-time career.

Developing his artistic vocabulary has been an ongoing journey for Morten. Despite years of work, he still feels like he’s in the process of honing his personal style. He has showcased original ideas, but constantly pushes himself for more.
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Morten’s approach to projects is quite dynamic. Most of his ideas come to life in the studio, where he spends most of his time. Handling and working with pieces often sparks new ideas. Sometimes, clients commission pieces, usually tables or chairs, based on his existing designs.

Wood is Morten’s preferred medium. Its warmth and texture offer a unique satisfaction that metal and plastic can’t match. Wood can be bent and carved, and solving the challenges it presents is incredibly rewarding. It’s perfect for one-of-a-kind pieces and small production runs.

When creating, Morten starts with pre-thought shapes. Sketches, scaled models, and 2D drawings help him visualize the design, but he leaves room for decisions to be made during the build. This flexible approach allows him to adapt and refine the details as he goes.

Selecting which ideas to pursue can be challenging, especially with furniture, which must also serve a function. Morten often has multiple ideas brewing, and he lets the most exciting ones naturally progress. If an idea doesn’t fully materialize or gets overshadowed by a better one, it gets set aside.
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In terms of composition, Morten trusts his taste and intuition. Since functionality is crucial for furniture, many of his decisions balance form and function.

Influences are many, but some key figures for Morten include Sam Maloof, a pioneer in art and craft, and Wendell Castle, who revolutionized stacked lamination. Joseph Walsh’s beautiful designs and use of bent lamination are also inspiring, as is Marc Fish, one of the most innovative woodworking furniture designers. Outside of woodworking, Ross Lovegrove and Zaha Hadid have significantly influenced his aesthetic sensibilities.

Morten’s journey from curious child to dedicated designer has been driven by a passion for creating and a love for the material. Every piece he designs and builds is a step further in his artistic exploration, always striving to bring his vision to life.

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This article about Morten Stenbæk takes part of the 40th magazine, ARTICULATE | Anthropocene. Read, download or order your print version of the full publication below.