Arne Jacobsen trained as a mason and graduated from the Technical Society's school in 1924 and the Copenhagen Art Academy 1927. In 1928 he received the Academy's gold medal, but prior to this, when only 23, he was awarded a silver medal at the 1925 World Exhibition in Paris.

At the time, Danish architects were taught that the whole of the building -- including the interior -- should be regarded as a work of art, and were trained accordingly in all the design arts. 

His main works include: town halls in Århus, Søllerød, Rødovre and Glostrup, SAS-building (Royal Hotel) in Copenhagen, Munkegårds School in Gentofte, Toms Chocolate Factory in Ballerup, the Danish National Bank headquarters, a sports hall in Landskrona, St. Catherine's College, Oxford and Hamburgerische Elektrizitätswerke's administration building.

In 1932, Jacobsen began a collaboration with Fritz Hansens Eft. A/S, and over a period of years designed a series of chairs which are now recognised as milestones in the development of modern furniture. They include "The Ant" (1951), "The Egg" (1957), and "The Swann"(1957). He was also an innovator in other design fields, such as the stainless steel tableware series "Cylinda-line".

Jacobsen was a professor at the Art Academy, and received honorary doctorates from a number of foreign universities and academies. Cylinda-line was awarded the ID-prize in 1967 by the Danish Society of Industrial Design and the International Design Award in 1968 by the American Institute of Interior Designers.