In the early 1950s, he joined the Italian lamp company Arteluce, where he worked alongside other leading designers such as Gino Sarfatti and Achille Castiglioni. There, he created many innovative luminaires that enjoyed great commercial success and won prestigious awards, such as the "Eclisse" lamp in 1967.
In 1969, Franco Luce left Arteluce to found his own company, Luceplan, with Riccardo Sarfatti (Gino Sarfatti's son) and Paolo Rizzatto. Luceplan quickly became a renowned name in the design world, producing innovative and functional lighting fixtures.
Franco Luce died in 1991, but his legacy as a lighting designer lives on today. His creations have been exhibited in numerous art and design museums around the world, and he is considered one of the most influential designers of his generation.