Wilhelm Wagenfeld was born as the son of Heinrich Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Elisabeth Wagenfeld, née Wichmann, on Vollmersstraße in Bremen-Walle. In 1902 and 1904, his sisters Anna and Auguste followed. He grew up in a politically influenced, social-democratic household; his father was a trusted representative of the transport workers in the harbor.

Starting in 1914, Wagenfeld completed an apprenticeship as an industrial draftsman in the design office of the Bremen silverware factory Koch & Bergfeld and simultaneously attended the State Bremen School of Arts and Crafts from 1916 to 1919. Afterwards, he studied for seven semesters at the Hanau Drawing Academy before spending a few months at the Worpswede artist colony. From 1923, he attended a preparatory class at the Bauhaus in Weimar and simultaneously studied in the metal workshop at the Bauhaus.

Wilhelm Wagenfeld was born as the son of Heinrich Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Elisabeth Wagenfeld, née Wichmann, on Vollmersstraße in Bremen-Walle. In 1902 and 1904, his sisters Anna and Auguste followed. He grew up in a politically influenced, social-democratic household; his father was a trusted representative of the transport workers in the harbor.

Starting in 1914, Wagenfeld completed an apprenticeship as an industrial draftsman in the design office of the Bremen silverware factory Koch & Bergfeld and simultaneously attended the State Bremen School of Arts and Crafts from 1916 to 1919. Afterwards, he studied for seven semesters at the Hanau Drawing Academy before spending a few months at the Worpswede artist colony. From 1923, he attended a preparatory class at the Bauhaus in Weimar and simultaneously studied in the metal workshop at the Bauhaus.