Professional JourneyIngmar embarked on his professional journey in the realm of Urban and Regional Planning, marking his foundation in the city of Perth, Western Australia. However, a momentous pivot led him to join forces with his father, award-winning lighting designer Martin Klaasen, at Klaasen Lighting Design. This transition not only came with the advantage of the Klaasen name but also ushered him into an extraordinary learning trajectory. Though lacking a formal lighting background, hitting the ground running coming into the very talented team at Klaasen Lighting Design, gave him an appreciation of the importance of lighting design. An element of Klaasen Lighting Design that Ingmar quickly developed a passion for was learning about the media of lighting design. Embracing business development and learning the media side of marketing Ingmar sought to create social media content, interviews and project videos that showcase Klaasen Lighting Design, its projects and team. Technological AdvancementsWith the advancement of technological innovation, Ingmar swiftly recognised the transformative impact of new technology on lighting design, particularly the Internet of Things (IoT) and data-driven automation. He co-founded Lighting Design of Things, a pioneering platform dedicated to seamlessly integrating IoT and lighting. Global Networking and Community BuildingAn advocate for knowledge exchange and industry connectivity, Ingmar's participation in international events and his role in founding the Virtual Lighting Design Community (VLDC) reflect his commitment to fostering a global network of lighting professionals. Despite the challenges imposed by the global pandemic, the VLDC flourished, providing a virtual platform for continued learning, collaboration, and camaraderie. Furthermore, Ingmar's involvement in the development of the Light Talk platform, hosted by Martin Klaasen, attests to his dedication to promoting lighting education and democratising access to industry insights and resources. Through VLDC and Light Talk Ingmar has honed his media skills, interviewing and creating content with some of the biggest and most interesting names in the lighting design industry. Ingmar didn’t come from a lighting design background and this enabled him to look at how to make lighting design knowledge accessible and informative to everybody as he has done through his work with, Klaasen Lighting Design, Lighting Design of Things, the Virtual Lighting Design Community and Light Talk, making his biggest weakness in the industry his greatest strength.
