Ingo Maurer

Ingo Maurer can arguably be said to be among the design geniuses of our time. He was born in 1932 on the Island of Reichenau, Lake Constance, Germany. He trained as a graphic designer from 1954-1958 and emigrated to the United States in 1960, where he worked as a freelance designer for three years at Kayser Aluminum and at IBM. After that period returned to Munich.

After returning to Germany, Maurer began to focus exclusively on new concepts in lighting design. In 1966, Maurer opened Design M, a firm which specialized in producing cutting-edge lighting design.  During the last forty-three years, Maurer has become the most prolific lighting designer, creating over 150 lights and lighting systems. He is considered to be a pioneer in the usage of new lighting technologies. He once said that he is fascinated by the magical and mystical properties of light, and this is evident in the humor, originality, and sheer beauty of his work.

Maurer's work is heavily influenced by Pop Art, a movement which he became familiar with while living in America, and his first lighting design, "Bulb" (1966), took on the form of an outsize light bulb of chromium-plated metal and hand-blown glass.

Throughout his career, Maurer's work has been featured in numerous museum exhibitions worldwide. He has been the recipient of frequent accolades, and some of his honors include "Chevalier des arts et des lettres" from the French Minister of Culture (1986), "Designer of the Year 1997" from the German magazine Architektur (1997), "Design Prize 1999" from the City of Munich (1999), "Lucky Strike Designer Award" 2000 from the Raymond Lowey Foundation (2000), George Jensen Prize 2002 awarded by the George Jensen Prize Committee (2002), and was appointed "Royal Designer of Industry" by the Royal Society of Arts (2005).

Back