Alberto Meda was born in Tremezzina in the province of Como in 1945. He graduated in mechanical engineering at the Milan Polytechnic in 1969.
From 1973 until 1979, Alberto Meda was technical manager at Kartell, where he was responsible for plastics technologies and furniture production. From 1979 he collaborates as industrial designer with various companies as Alfa Romeo Auto, Alias, Alessi, ,Cinelli, Colombo design, Brevetti Gaggia, JcDecaux, Ideal Standard, Luceplan, Legrand, Mandarina Duck, Omron Japan, Philips, Olivetti, Vitra, etc.
From 1983 until 1987 Alberto Meda taught industrial technology at the Domus Academy in Milan. From 1995 until 1997 Meda taught industrial design at the Milan Polytechnic. Between 1995 and 1997 he was a member of the board of directors at Designlabor in Bremerhaven. Since 2003 he is lecturer at IUAV in Venice with design workshops.
Alberto Meda was awarded the "Compasso d'oro" for "Lola" lamp and "Metropoli" lamps serie, by Luceplan; "Designer of the year 1999" Paris, Salon du Meuble; Bundespreis Produktdesign 2000/2001 with Vitra's Meda chair; "Hon Royal Designer for Industry" RSA London in 2005.
Several exhibitions, among others at "Triennale di Milano", "Design Gallery" in Tokyo and in Paris during Salon du Meuble.
Since 1994 the Museum of Modern Art in New York includes in its permanent collection: "Light light" chair, "Soft light" chair, "Longframe" by Alias and "On-Off" lamp by Luceplan.
He lives and works in Milan.