Both brothers studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań before turning to design. They worked together in their own design agency in Warsaw, creating designs for local and international companies.
Their creations were often modernist wooden furniture, with simple geometric shapes and bright colors. Their style was influenced by European modernist design movements such as Bauhaus and Scandinavian style.
The Lis brothers were also active in Warsaw's cultural life, organizing art and design exhibitions in their personal gallery. In 1968, John and his family emigrated to Australia, where he continued to work as a designer until his death in 2001.
Henryk remained in Poland and continued to work in design until his death in 2005. The creations of John and Henryk Lis are considered important pieces in the history of Polish design, and are exhibited in museums around the world.