Giotto Stoppino studied at the Iuav University of Venice and the Polytechnic of Milan. From 1953 Stoppino worked with the architects Vittorio Gregotti and Lodovico Meneghetti. Here, Stoppino designed among others the Cavour armchair for Sim, the 537 table lamp for Arteluce, and a set of stackable circular tables for Kartell.
In 1960 Stoppino became a member of ADI and four years later he obtained the International Grand Prix. In 1968 Stoppino opened an independent studio from where he collaborated with Italian companies such as Bernini, Calligaris, Driade, and Zanotta. From 1982 to 1984 Stoppino was the president of ADI and became a chairman of the ICSID (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) in 1983. Stoppino won the Compasso d'Oro three times; in 1979 for the Sheraton sidetable, in 1991 for the Alessia handle system, and in 2001 he was honored with the lifetime achievement award.
Stoppino exhibited two works in Italy: The New Domestic Landscape at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1972. In 1984 he presented an interior as well as designs at the Design Furniture from Italy exhibition in Tokyo.
Since the 1970s Stoppino has been represented in the permanent collection at MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York with the 537 lamp, and at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London with the Sheraton side table. One of Stoppino's most well-known designs is the magazine rack 4676 for Kartell in 1972.
