1956 Born in Altötting/Bavaria. 1978–1983 Interior Design studies at Akademie der Bildenden Künste München. 1982–1988 Architecture studies at Technische Universität München. 1986 Founded an interior design firm. 1988–1993 Interior Design studies at Akademie der Bildenden Künste München. Since 1994 Professor at BURG, Design Faculty. Since 2003 Teacher at universities in St. Petersburg/Russia.

In 2022, Prof. Johann Stief retired from active university service.