“The focus is shifting towards the interior experience”

Benjamin Müller Benjamin Müller

20 October 2025 - 12:51

1 min

Philipp Kolb is Head of Electronic Engineering at Lightworks, with extensive experience in developing complex lighting systems – from circuit and embedded software design to complete electronic architectures for show cars.

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Lighting systems are becoming increasingly complex and connected. Philipp Kolb from Lightworks explains how design, electronics, and optics merge into homogeneous, functional lighting solutions – and why balance and precision are key to the next generation of intelligent in-car lighting.

After early projects for Audi and BMW at Ruetz Technologies, Philipp Kolb has been leading hardware and software development at Lightworks since 2017. At the 6th ISELED Conference, he will address the challenge of “solving the equation” – achieving homogeneous yet sharply defined lighting boundaries within extremely tight packaging constraints. Ahead of the event, we spoke with him about the technological opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of automotive lighting.

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ADT: Lightworks has built a reputation for pioneering innovative lighting solutions – from multi-lens arrays and OLEDs to ISELED-based interior concepts. Where do you see the most disruptive opportunities for combining ambient and safety lighting functions in the coming years?

Kolb: The challenge here is clearly to catch, on the one hand, the attention of the driver, but on the other hand not to distract or annoy. Therefore, investigating the system in several situations, also with respect to outside light conditions, is necessary.

Your presentation at the ISELED Conference is titled “Solve the equation: thin package space, homogeneous but sharp boundaries” – How do you approach this trade-off between design ambition, integration constraints, and optical performance in real-world projects?

We achieve this through very close team communication, where all necessary domains are involved – starting from industrial design, optical, mechanical, and electronic design. This allows us to discuss quickly what is imaginable and what is manufacturable at the end of the day.

Light is increasingly merging with decorative surfaces and advanced HMI strategies. How can Lightworks help OEMs and suppliers transform these ideas into scalable solutions that deliver both emotional impact and functional value in the age of autonomous mobility?

For many years, that’s been exactly part of our daily business in pre-series development projects – working together with OEMs and Tier 1s on this question. With the scale-up of autonomous possibilities, the focus is shifting towards the interior experience in the future. To achieve a high-quality appearance here, creativity – but also a sense of what is “too much” – is a key factor. With our skills in 3D rendering and VR, we can provide first impressions quickly and effectively.