In certain example embodiments, light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be disposed on a deformable and flexible backbone sheet and chained together in an array, e.g., via flexible wiggle wires. Such flexible wiggle wires may also provide an electrical connection to an external power source. An optical out-coupling layer stack (OCLS) system may help serve as an index matching layer, heat sink, etendue conserver, etc. The backbone may be formed to a shape tailored to its ultimate application. Applications may include, for example, automotive (such as Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) applications), lighting, signage, and/or other applications. In an example CHMSL application, the deformable sheet with the LED array thereon has a step, sinusoidal, or other shape matched to the angle and/or curvature of the glass such that the LEDs produce light primarily in a direction parallel to a surface on which a vehicle is located.