Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was one of the greatest interior architects and designers of his time. He is often said to have captured the essence of Finnish identity, creating dozens of iconic objects that remain popular today. Tapiovaara graduated from the Department of Furniture Design at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki in 1937. After completing his studies, he worked as an assistant in Le Corbusier's office in Paris before becoming artistic director and designer at Asko Oy, then one of Finland's largest furniture manufacturers.