McCobb began his design career working for an advertising company, where he developed expertise in graphic design and visual presentation. In 1945, he founded his own company, Paul McCobb Design Associates, and began designing furniture for manufacturers such as Winchendon Furniture Company, H. Sacks & Sons and Directional Furniture.
McCobb's designs were known for their timeless elegance, functional simplicity and innovative use of modern materials such as plywood, metal and glass. Among his most famous designs were the Planner Group collection for Winchendon Furniture, which included shelving, desks and chairs in blond wood, and the Irwin collection for Calvin Furniture, which featured furniture in chrome-plated metal and glass.
McCobb was also a strong advocate of the importance of accessible and affordable design, and worked with manufacturers to develop modern furniture solutions that were accessible to average consumers.
Paul McCobb died in 1969 at the age of 52, but his legacy lives on in the permanent collections of many art and design museums, as well as in modern interiors around the world.