Dorothee Becker was born in 1938 in Aschaffenburg, Germany. After living for a time in London and Paris, she moved to California in 1960. She returned to Germany with her husband, Ingo Maurer, and ran a successful shop for well-designed and practical everyday objects until 1989. Becker has continued her creative activities to the present day. Her most recognisable design is the Utensilo by Vitra, it became an icon of plastic design.