Early in his career, Nordsted worked for the Fredericia furniture company, where he designed elegant modern furniture that contributed to the emergence of Danish mid-century style. He also worked with other renowned furniture manufacturers, such as France & Søn and Erik Jørgensen.
In addition to his work in furniture, Nordsted also designed textiles, lighting and interior design objects. His style is characterized by simple, uncluttered forms, attention to detail and the use of natural materials such as wood and leather.
Nordsted has received numerous awards for his work, including the Eckersberg Medal in 1976, the Medal of the Danish Society of Arts and Crafts in 1993 and the International Prize of the Bruno Mathsson Foundation in 1997. His work is exhibited in museums around the world, including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Copenhagen and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.