 Strengell akaberekerwa muHelsinki, Finland, mwanasikana wemuvaki weFinland Gustaf Strengell uye mugadziri wemukati Anna Wegelius. Akapedza kudzidza paCentral School of Industrial Design muHelsingfors muna 1929, akabva aenda kuStockholm kwaakabatsira mukugadzirira 1930 Stockholm Exhibition. Strengell akabata zvinzvimbo zvinoverengeka muScandinavia, achigadzira makapeti, machira uye zvemukati. Chimwe chezvinzvimbo zvake zvekutanga chaive semugadziri paHemflit-Kotiahkeruus uko amai vake, Anna, vaive director uye vaive nebasa rekutanga indasitiri yekumba mukugadzira vakadzi vevarimi. Strengell akabva kuScandinavia achienda kuUnited States muna 1936. 