Marco Zanini graduated in Architecture at the University of Florence in 1976 and completed his studies in the United States. 1977 marked the start of his collaboration with Ettore Sottsass in Milan. Zanini began drawing for Memphis in 1981, creating works for all the collections. He has designed ceramics, jewellery, furniture and objects in blown glass.

The founder together with Sottsass of Sottsass Associati, he has held the role of Design Manager for many projects: office furniture for well-known brands, residential interiors, showroom interiors, exhibition installations, street furniture and industrial products for a wide range of clients in Italy and abroad. He has worked as an architect and designer in Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Chile and Spain. His works are exhibited in numerous museums and private collections. Zanini holds frequent conferences on industrial design.

Today he lives and works in São Paulo in Brazil. On the occasion of the "Italian Design Day 2021" the Italian Consulate in Belo Horizonte promoted an in-depth study of the Memphis style, including an interview with Marco Zanini.