Tapio Wirkkala’s glass design career began when he won the Karhula-Iittala glass design competition in 1946. The following year, Iittala recognized his talents and hired Wirkkala as a full-time designer, thrusting his glass designs into the limelight at several exhibitions. His great breakthrough occurred at the LX Milan Triennale in 1951, garnering the attention his designs rightfully deserved.

Due to this success, Wirkkala received an invitation to collaborate with world-renowned industrial designer Raymond Loewy’s office in New York. Eager to apply his New York experience to the Finnish context, he assumed the role of A. Ahlstrom Corporation’s Industrial and Artistic Designer in 1957. Wirkkala also took on the responsibility of serving as a general artistic advisor to the company’s factories and offices, a concept he initiated, believing that Finland lacked a versatile design office. This marked the beginning of A-studio.

With A-studio, Wirkkala’s responsibilities extended not only to the company’s plastics industry but also to the packing paper and construction industries. A-studio’s portfolio included various small items like glass, lights, plastic products, and packaging. In addition to providing designs, A-studio was also responsible for planning and implementing the company’s exhibitions. This multifaceted approach encapsulated Wirkkala’s holistic vision for design in Finland, positioning A-studia as a dynamic hub shaping the broader design landscape.