He started his activity as a member of the Nizzoli studio (1960-70) and then alternated this activity with a strong theoretical and critical commitment. Mr. Mandini was the protagonist of many of the most important cultural events of the XX century; he contributed theoretically on ongoing phenomena and by creating new schools of thought. He founded and participated to cultural movements and research groups such as Global Tools in 1973 and Alchimia in 1979. He is the founder and director of design and architecture magazines.

For the value of his work he was nominated Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in France. He received numerous awards, such as the Compasso d'Oro (1979 and 1981), the Architectural League Award (New York, 1983), and an Honorary Degree at the Polytechnic University in Milan. As a designer he created, among other things, the arm-chair Proust (1978, reproduced in 1994), which was displayed in several permanent collections such as the Triennial Design Museum and the Arts Museum in Catanzaro.

In 2000 he founded, together with his brother Francesco, the Atelier Mendini.