A book about seating objects changed his life. Ever since, Joe Sterck has been designing furniture that is both functional and sculptural.
“During my studies, a fellow student once lent me Exercises in Seating, a small book by Max Lamb in which he documents the making process of experimental seating objects,” says Joe Sterck. “I was so impressed that I built one of his DIY chairs myself. When it was finished, I knew: this is what I want to do.”
Today, Sterck designs unique, conceptual furniture under his own name. Due to his extensive experimentation with materials and techniques, his designs are often costly and therefore accessible to only a limited audience. “That is why I founded Studio Sterck together with Mattiece Vantyghem. He handles the commercial side; I focus on the creative work. With the studio, we produce objects in larger editions and sell them online, without the involvement of galleries. This allows our work to become more affordable for people of our own generation.”
His best-known design? “Speculum is a table I designed during my studies, which transforms into a mirrored sculpture through a simple gesture. It is a response to the art-design trend that often prioritises sculpture over function. This table embodies both qualities but never at the same time.”
Which design do you wish you had created yourself?
“The Cabbage Chair by Nendo for Issey Miyake.”
What should never have been designed?
“The street lamps on Antwerp’s Operaplein.”
Sabato Design 100
October 2025
This is not a bag.
Last week, I visited Atelier Bardaf, in the Anderlecht district of Brussels, to attend the launch of Studio Sterck founded by designer Joe Sterck and his partner in crime, Mattiece Vantyghem. As I stepped into the building, a hundred metal bags, neatly numbered from 1 to 100, stood tall, like little soldiers lined up on the red floor, ready to welcome visitors. Their leather handles already bore small pink tags, proof that they were finding new owners almost as quickly as they appeared. Because yes, behind this metallic army lies a brilliant idea: a collection designed to be both accessible to all budgets and full of hidden functions.
As captured in the series of black-and-white photographs by Femke Appeltans displayed on metal plates (of course), these pieces reveal a world of playful versatility. A BMX ramp for the bold, an improvised seat for the solitary, or even a slightly voyeuristic bathroom stand this metal bag was conceived to be your most loyal companion. The Antwerp-based designer also had the clever idea of showcasing the original pattern used to create the bags. Much like a garment pattern, it can be easily folded along its pre-marked lines.
A little further on, facing these metallic protagonists, Joe was already unveiling the beginnings of his next collection for Studio Sterck. A metal mirror, perched on a white pedestal, revealed a curtain that unmistakably evoked a scene straight out of a BDSM-inspired universe. Later, Mattiece explained to me that this element - initially crafted from the remnants of a metallic enamel garment - was imagined to transform the mirror into a “call stage”: the curtain rises, the mirror awakens, and the conversation begins. Lower down, an earring toilet-paper holder perks up, eager to catch every whisper of what’s happening around it.
I first discovered Joe’s work two years ago and I must admit, his world continues to surprise me. Joe is one of those rare, radical designers we don’t come across much anymore. Whole, bold and always ready to break the codes.
Marine Mimouni, Revue Lateral and Curator Collectible Brussels
October 2025