He studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic and began his career as editor-in-chief of Casabella magazine in 1970. He went on to work as art director for several design companies, including Alessi, Swatch and Bisazza.
Mendini was one of the founders of the Radical design movement in the 1960s, which aimed to challenge the conventions of the design industry and propose new, innovative ideas. He was also a strong advocate of the use of bright colors and bold patterns in design.
Some of his most famous works include the Proust chair, the Anna G table lamp for Alessi and the cover of the "Yes" music album from Depero's "Futurismo & Futurismi" comic strip.
Mendini received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Compasso d'Oro, Italy's highest design honor. He has also taught industrial design at the University of Milan and written numerous books on design and architecture.