Carpani is best known for his work in furniture design, notably for the Italian brand Zanotta, for whom he created such iconic pieces as the "Servomuto" armchair and the "Maggiolina" table. He has also worked in product design for the Alessi, Danese and Flos companies.
During his career, Carpani received numerous awards for his designs, including the Compasso d'Oro in 1979 for his "Maggiolina" table. He also taught product design at Milan Polytechnic.
Silvio Carpani is considered one of the most influential designers of the second half of the 20th century in Italy, with a style characterized by elegant simplicity and attention to functional detail.