F/List shares all about the F/Lab Lightshifter concept, which enables real wood veneer surfaces to morph to expose integrated illumination on demand.
F/List has garnered great success with its Shapeshifter technology – which enables cabin monuments to morph. In response to a client’s wish to transform their cabin ambience without adding weight or complexity, F/List’s internal incubator F/Lab has built on Shapeshifter for a prototype called Lightshifter.
This enables real wood veneer surfaces to morph to reveal integrated illumination and return to a flat surface when no longer required. Lightshifter can be controlled through CMS, and customised sequences can be created, with varied colours, light intensity and effects. A partner has not been defined yet for the CMS integration.
As well as creating new dimensions for F/List’s core focus – surface materials – the concept also responds to wider trends for invisible technology, the use of light to support wellbeing, and streamlined design.
“It’s more than a product – it’s a mindset,” says Michael Müller, MD of F/List Aviation. “The cabin of the future will be alive, emotional and responsive. With Lightshifter, we’re proving that even traditional materials like wood can tell stories through light. This is just the beginning.”
F/List revealed the prototype to 200 aviation leaders at its facility. “The feedback was very good,” says Müller. “You could see their surprise and curiosity when the wood started to glow – I saw it in their eyes, even more than with Shapeshifter. With this kind of ambient light, you can somehow move the customer much more.” F/List listened very carefully to feedback from the event, and Müller reveals that a further step will be shown at Aircraft Interiors Expo in 2026. “We now want to go into the co-creation phase with our customers, to create a custom experience,” he adds. “It’s not certified yet, but we are able to show that the materials applicable to Shapeshifter are also applicable for Lightshifter.”
He doesn’t anticipate certification roadblocks or significant weight impact. “You’ll need a mechanism to make the surface morph, but on the other hand, we will have fewer materials, since it’s much more of an integrated solution,” explains Müller.
The current buildup consists of a wood top layer with a light layer underneath. A new material combination was developed to allow the wood to morph between states without impacting durability, the company says. “We’re going through lifecycle testing already,” says Müller. “The idea is that the lifecycle will be the same as any other movable part. That’s the standard we need to achieve.”
Müller believes the concept could be applied to any kind of wooden surface, and looking to the future possibly other materials too. The idea is applicable across business jets, helicopters and commercial aircraft.
Lightshifter surfaces would need to be crafted by F/List as a plug-and-play solution for the monument, then shipped to the aircraft OEM or completion centre. “It needs to be highly integrated, and therefore the technology and craftsmanship must go hand in hand,” says Müller.
This article was written by Izzy Kington and first published in the December 2025/January 2026 edition of Business Jet Interiors International as part of a look back at some of the most interesting developments of 2025.
