After the Meisterschule für Kunsthandwerk, Salzburg (1944), Rastdorfer was a visiting student at the Kunstgewerbeschule and gained practical experience at a printer in Salzburg (1945–50). His first exhibitions took place in 1950 and 1951. Worked for two years in an advertising agency in Frankfurt, before starting his own studio in Munich. He worked for national and international enterprises, institutes and publishing firms on graphic and industrial design projects, photography and film (1967–93). Since 1978 he has also painted and made sculptures. In 1980 Rastdorfer designed the bibliographical work Harlekin-Zyklus. In 1993 he returned to Austria. As a sculptor he has been commissioned for prestigious projects by Salzburg Airport, the Museum Carolinum Augusteum and the ‘Haus für Mozart’ at the Salzburger Festspiele. His works have been published in many books, design magazines and brochures. In 2001 he became an honorary member of Design Austria.