Case Study: Illuminate Entertainment Inc. achieves adaptable, artist‑focused arena lighting and streamlined production with VectorWorks

Illuminate Entertainment Inc. - Customer Case Study

Nick Whitehouse, founder of Illuminate Entertainment, is a sought-after concert lighting designer for artists such as Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, Beyoncé and Jay‑Z. His core challenge is delivering artist-focused, seamless lighting across wildly different venues and artistic demands — from massive 150'×60' hexagon projection walls to small TV stages — while managing complex logistics, tight schedules and thousands of cues on long arena tours.

He solves this with a collaborative, tech-driven workflow: rough sketches refined into Vectorworks Spotlight/Renderworks 2D/3D models with hybrid symbols, coordinated file exchanges with set builders, and export to grandMA2 consoles. That process allowed him to adapt designs night-to-night on a 140+ show tour (including 12,000–15,000 cues per joint Timberlake/Jay‑Z show), optimize sightlines and sellable seating, and deliver visually powerful yet music-centered productions that keep him in demand.

Illuminate Entertainment Inc.

Nick Whitehouse

Creative Producer & Lighting Designer