Acton Bjørn began studies in architecture and urban planning but started to work as an industrial designer during World War II. After the war Bjørn worked with manufacturers Douglas and Boeing on the creation of an aircraft for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines). In 1949 Bjørn met Swedish designer Sigvard Bernadotte. Together they founded the studio Bernadotte & Bjørn in 1950, one of the first Scandinavian industrial design agencies. After the company was cancelled in 1964, Bjørn founded his own studio in 1966 called Acton Bjørn Tegnestue, specialized in household products and appliances as well as office furniture. Bjørn is also well-known for the corporate design profiles he created for several companies in the insurance and banking sector.
In 1966 Bjørn was awarded the German IF Design Award for the transistor radio Beolit 500 designed for Bang & Olufsen. Beolit 500 is now regarded as being one of the first radio designs to reach a functional simplicity.
