Viljo Hirvonen was born on 6 March 1900 in Kemi, Finland, and died on 4 January 1969 in Helsinki.

With his broad field of activity in areas such as graphic design, industrial design and interior design, Hirvonen showed his versatility. Particularly noteworthy are his innovative and functional furniture pieces, which were highly acclaimed both in Finland and internationally in the 1930s and 1940s.

Not only as a designer, but also as a co-founder of the Finnish Design Association, Viljo Hirvonen was passionate about promoting and appreciating Finnish design. His contribution to Finnish design history is invaluable and his works still impress with timeless design today.

In 1952, Hirvonen founded his own company, Valaistustyö Ky, and began a remarkable collaboration with Alvar Aalto the following year. Hirvonen was a master of metalworking and became an ideal partner for Aalto in the production of lamps. When MoMa ordered a work in metal, the choice inevitably fell on Hirvonen - a clear decision.