Born in Ferrara, Michele De Lucchi studied in Padua and later at the University of Florence, graduating in 1975. He subsequently taught there. He designed for Studio Alchimia and in the 1980s for Memphis, being responsible for the introduction of geometric motifs on the plastic laminates used by Memphis. In 1979, he was appointed as a consultant by Olivetti, Ivrea, Italy. Currently, he is concentrating on product design.