Ponti was a creative humanist who worked both as an architect and as a furniture designer. He designed everything from chairs, tables and lamps to ceramics and textiles. Ponti designed with the vision of creating furniture that would be both functional and beautiful. He laid the foundations for a new Italian style that was more pared down and international.

In 1928, Ponti created Domus Magazine. He remained active in Milan until his death, and the magazine is still run successfully. In the late 1950s, Ponti designed the hugely popular 699 Superleggera chair for Cassina. The chair came to represent modern Italian design and today is a symbol of the successful fusion of designer and mass production. Gio Ponti is considered one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, and had a revolutionary impact on modern design.