This is a big question! I mean, without light there is no life. Humans have always been connected to light. Without fire, for example, we wouldn’t have evolved into what we are today. Light is a crucial part of our life.
In terms of light design, it’s so important because it gives the car the right look. It underlines the character. As light designers, we’re always talking about the eyes of the car. How is the car looking at you? With lights, with the eyes of the car, you can fundamentally change how a car looks, so I think it’s very important.
Light design has always been a core pillar of Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik ethos. Which models from Audi’s history stand out as milestones?
For me, a standout car in terms of lighting was the Audi A8 from 2013. It was the first model where we integrated the Matrix function, and I think it’s the perfect example of how to combine technology and design. If you look at the headlight, it doesn’t even look like a light you’d find on a car. It was really important for us to find a new look, a new feeling for this new technology, and we did.
I would also point out the third-generation Audi TT (2013). For me, this is a really iconic light graphic with its two vertical lines. It was a really sporty touch – perfect for the car.
Light design and exterior design go hand in hand. How do the two teams work together to reach a common goal?
It’s certainly a challenge! But it’s fun. First I’ll just walk around the car with the exterior designer when they’re developing the volumes and the outline of where the lamp will go, to get the essence of what the car is all about, what they’re trying to achieve.
For example, with the A6 e-tron they wanted to extend the shoulder of the car all the way to the lights, so you think about how you can help achieve this goal with the light design. The Q6 e-tron is a very good example of this where we’ve stretched the lines of the car seamlessly to the headlight. It’s good fun working with the exterior designers.