April 8, 2008 We've previously discussed the potential of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology to transform the nature of interior lighting products - walls, furniture and even abstract art can now be vehicles for the introduction of these versatile and energy efficient light sources into the home. The striking “Early Future” table light from celebrated lighting designer Ingo Maurer is the latest example to cross our desk.

On show at the Light+Building Fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (April 6-11, 2008), the limited edition Maurer lamp incorporates a series of 132 x 33 millimeter OLED tiles from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors into its elegant tree-like design.

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors made prototypes of organic light emitting diodes available to the designer for his creation. “We are proud that our OLEDs have inspired such a renowned artist as Ingo Maurer to create such an exciting work of art. ‘Early Future’ is a vision that has become reality. It gives us a glimpse of just how versatile organic OLEDs can be in terms of their design options and applications,” said Martin Goetzeler, CEO of OSRAM.

Ingo Maurer has a long and illustrious involvement in the lighting design field including the designer luminaire Bulb which, along with several of his other works, has been on exhibit in the New York Museum of Modern Art since 1969. According to Maurer, unusual design is not an end in itself: “Early Future’ represents an important stage in the transition from abstract object to functional designer lighting”.