Antonio Citterio was born in the Italian city of Meda in 1950. He opened his own studio in 1972 and completed his degree in architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1975. Between 1987 and 1996, he collaborated with Terry Dawn to design many buildings across Europe and Japan.

In 2000, Citterio and Patricia Viel formed a multidisciplinary office for architecture, interior design and graphics. The office operates internationally, developing complex long-term projects in synergy with a qualified network of specialist consultants. The practice is now called 'Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel'.

In addition to his collaboration with Vitra, Antonio Citterio works in the industrial design sector with companies such as Ansorg, Arclinea, Axor/Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Flexform, Flos, Hermès, Iittala, Kartell, Maxalto, Sanitec (Geberit Group) and Technogym.

He has received numerous awards, including the Compasso d'Oro in 1987 and 1995. Citterio served as professor of architecture at the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Mendrisio from 2006 to 2016. He was named 'Royal Designer for Industry' by the London-based Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce in 2008.