Born in Milan in 1917, Nobili studied architecture at the Milan Polytechnic before turning to furniture design in the 1940s. He began his career working for the Milanese furniture company Fratelli Tagliabue, where he designed many innovative pieces of furniture that won prestigious awards.
In 1953, Nobili founded his own furniture design company, Arredamenti Vittorio Nobili, which quickly gained a reputation for its avant-garde creations. He was known for his bold use of materials such as stainless steel, glass and Plexiglas, as well as for his minimalist and functional approach.
Nobili worked with many of Italy's leading brands, including Olivetti, Bieffeplast, and Arflex, for whom he designed iconic pieces such as the Superleggera chair and the Leggera plastic chair. He has also designed interiors for ships and aircraft, as well as exhibitions for events such as the Milan Triennale.
Over the course of his career, Nobili has won numerous awards for his contributions to design, including the Compasso d'Oro prize in 1955 and 1957. His creations are exhibited in museums around the world, including MoMA in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Triennale Design Museum in Milan.
Nobili died in Milan in 2000, but his legacy as an innovative and influential designer continues to inspire current generations of designers.