After studying at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and Milan Polytechnic, he turned to design, adopting an innovative approach focused on modularity and modern materials, particularly plastics.

Colombo is best known for such iconic designs as the Tube chair (1969), the Spider lamp (1965, Compasso d’Oro 1967), and the Boby cart (1970), functional, avant-garde pieces that reflect his vision of contemporary living.

He also explored concepts of integrated living spaces, such as the Monobloc Total Living Unit, an all-in-one unit combining the essential functions of a home.

Present in prestigious collections such as that of MoMA in New York, his works bear witness to a visionary spirit that left its mark on the history of design, despite a career cut short by his premature death at the age of 41.