In 1977 he began collaborating with Ettore Sottsass in Milan. Zanini was one of the co-founders of Memphis in 1981, and designed works for all the collections. He designs ceramics, jewellery, furniture, and blown-glass objects. Founder together with Sottsass of Sottsass Associati, he is the Design Manager for many projects: office furniture for well-known brands, residential interiors, showroom interiors, exhibition design, street furniture and industrial products for a wide range of clients in Italy and abroad.

He works as architect and designer in Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Chile, and Spain. His works are to be found in numerous museums and private collections. Zanini holds frequent conferences on industrial design. Today he lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil.