Matteo Thun's designs have their origins in his years of teaching under Oskar Kokoschka and Emilio Vedova at the Salzburg Academy and the University of Florence. He continued his education under Ettore Sottsass before founding the famous Memphis Group with him in 1981. After several years working as a professor of design in Vienna, Matteo Thun opened a design studio, named after himself, in 1984.
Antonio Rodriguez initially studied in Valencia, where he developed his philosophy of upscaling everyday objects through high-quality design. He joined Matteo Thun's design studio in 1999 after multiple collaborations with internationally renowned brands.
Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez founded Studio MTD-r together in 2001. Their designs primarily represent a combination of slick functionality and a sophisticated appearance.