Marco Zanini was born in Trento in 1954. After graduating in architecture from the University of Florence and completing further studies in the United States, he returned to Italy and began a collaboration with Ettore Sottsass, which led to the founding of the Memphis group.

As design manager at Sottsass Associati, he contributed to numerous projects, including exhibition spaces and works in industrial design and interior architecture for a diverse and international clientele. His creations — furniture, glass objects, jewelry, and ceramics — are known for their colorful and vibrant design.