Born in La Spezia in 1954, Giovannoni graduated in architecture in Florence in 1978. He now lives and works in Milan. He was a lecturer and a researcher at the faculty of Architecture in Florence, as well as a professor on the master courses of the Milan Domus Academy, the Reggio Emilia Design University and Industrial Design professor at the faculty of Architecture in Genoa. He works with many prolific companies including Alessi, Fiat, Flos, Inda, Laufen, Lavazza, Magis Oregon Scientific, Seiko, Simens, 3M, Tot, and Veneta cucine. He has designed a number of successful products and his bestsellers include the Girotondo tray for Alessi and the Bombo series for Magis.