Maria Lindemann was born in Wiborg, Finland (Viipuri), and studied from 1939 to 1945 at Taideteollisuuskeskuskoulu, now known as the Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in Helsinki. In 1953, Lindemann took part in a competition of lighting fixtures, announced by the Idman company. This competition resulted in a full-time job as the Idman’s artistic designer