Case Studies > Lighting for Music Royalty: Nick Whitehouse's Journey with Top Artists

Lighting for Music Royalty: Nick Whitehouse's Journey with Top Artists

Region

America
Asia

Country

Japan
United States

Product

Vectorworks Spotlight
Renderworks
grandMA2 lighting console

Tech Stack

Vectorworks Spotlight
Renderworks
grandMA2 lighting console

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Customer Satisfaction
Innovation Output

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Functions

Business Operation
Facility Management

Use Cases

Remote Control
Visual Quality Detection

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration

About The Customer

Nick Whitehouse is a world-renowned lighting designer known for creating awe-inspiring light shows for some of the biggest names in music, including Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears. His journey in the industry began with humble beginnings as a stage-tech while attending Notre Dame College in Leeds. He worked primarily at small venues, making connections that eventually led to opportunities with major acts. His first touring experience was with Britpop band Starsailor, which caught the attention of Coldplay. This led to an eight-year touring stint with Coldplay, during which he honed his skills and gained global recognition. A pivotal moment came when Justin Timberlake, impressed by Whitehouse's work with Coldplay, offered him a job on the spot during a show in Tokyo. Although Whitehouse initially turned it down due to his commitment to Coldplay, he later joined Timberlake's team, leading to a collaborative relationship that pushed the boundaries of lighting design.

The Challenge

Nick Whitehouse, a world-renowned lighting designer, faced the challenge of creating awe-inspiring light shows for some of the biggest names in music, including Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears. His journey began with humble beginnings as a stage-tech while attending Notre Dame College in Leeds. He worked primarily at small venues, making connections that eventually led to opportunities with major acts. His first touring experience was with Britpop band Starsailor, which caught the attention of Coldplay. This led to an eight-year touring stint with Coldplay, during which he honed his skills and gained global recognition. A pivotal moment came when Justin Timberlake, impressed by Whitehouse's work with Coldplay, offered him a job on the spot during a show in Tokyo. Although Whitehouse initially turned it down due to his commitment to Coldplay, he later joined Timberlake's team, leading to a collaborative relationship that pushed the boundaries of lighting design.

The Solution

Whitehouse's solution to the challenges he faced involved leveraging advanced lighting technologies and software to create unique and adaptable lighting designs. He used Vectorworks Spotlight software to draw rough ideas on paper and then bring them into the software as symbols to ensure they fit different venues. This software allowed him to work in 2D and 3D environments, maneuvering elements to fit various stage sizes and shapes, from large arenas like Madison Square Garden to small stages on television shows. The software's comprehensive tools made it easy to label and keep track of fixture types, quantities, and focus positions. Whitehouse also used Renderworks cameras to guide promoters through sight lines from different seating blocks, helping them maximize sellable seats in every venue. Once the sizing was correct, he generated quick 3D renderings to get feedback from artists. After client approval, he exchanged information with set designers and construction companies to create final light plots, which he then exported into a grandMA2 lighting console using a plug-in created by MA Lighting for Vectorworks software.

Operational Impact

Whitehouse's dedication and innovative approach positioned him as a sought-after lighting designer, allowing him to interpret and match his lighting to an artist's unique style.
He engaged in a dialogue with clients to ensure satisfaction with the general aesthetic of the lighting design, starting with rough ideas on paper and then using Vectorworks Spotlight software to refine the designs.
The software's ability to work in 2D and 3D environments with hybrid symbols allowed Whitehouse to quickly see what worked in terms of space and create visually appealing plots.
Whitehouse's use of Renderworks cameras helped guide promoters through sight lines from different seating blocks, maximizing sellable seats in every venue.
His collaborative workflow with set designers and construction companies ensured the creation of final light plots that met client expectations.

Quantitative Benefit