After studying at l'École de Nancy, he began his career blacksmithing in Enghien before returning to Paris. It is this intimate knowledge of metal that carries through each of his designs. Founding Atelier Jean Prouvé in 1931, his early work experimented with folding and arc-welding steel and aluminium to create lightweight metal-based furniture. Through his studio, he established himself as a world-renowned designer akin to other mid-century design icons such as Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand.

Prouvé's timeless designs remain incredibly popular today and continue to be manufactured by Vitra in close collaboration with his estate. Following his death in 1984, his work has been the focus of major exhibitions at the Vitra Design Museum and London's Design Museum. Furthermore, his designs sit in permanent collections of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and New York’s MoMA.