Urban Johansson is the youngest of Vitalis and Signe Johansson's children, he was born in 1956 and grew up in Solliden. He went to Arvika University and graduated in 1974.

He started weaving as a 14-year-old apprentice in high school. He continued weaving after graduation and has worked as both a weaver and designer at Klässbols Linneväveri since 2003.

Urban Johansson has been awarded the Excellent Swedish Design Award (Excellent Swedish Design Prize) for, among other things, his towel design, Line.