Creative Designs in Lighting
Creative Designs in Lighting is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based architectural lighting design consultancy founded in 1978, providing interior and exterior lighting design, LED retrofit, and lighting control system services to enterprise hospitality, restaurant, retail, corporate, healthcare, and luxury residential clients across the U.S. and Mexico.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersScottsdale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Creative Designs in Lighting does
Creative Designs in Lighting (CDL) is a Scottsdale, Arizona-headquartered architectural lighting design consultancy founded in 1978 by Walter Spitz. The firm provides interior and exterior architectural lighting design, master planning, full-scale mockups and digital simulations, photometric calculations, LED retrofit design, energy-saving lighting control system design and programming, life cycle cost and energy analysis, LEED compliance support, and on-site aim/focus services. CDL serves a mix of enterprise commercial clients and luxury residential owners, with named projects including the Arizona Biltmore Resort, Mountain Shadows Resort, J.W. Marriott Mexico City, M&M'S World Las Vegas, the Heard Museum Shop, Morgan Stanley's Rivulon office, El Paso International Airport, and Hospice of the Valley.
CDL's business model is project-based professional services: engagements are scoped per project, priced privately (not publicly disclosed), and delivered consultatively from concept through construction administration. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on direct client relationships, repeat engagements with hospitality and retail owners (Hi Noon Hospitality, BRE Hotels & Resorts, M&M'S World), and a steady referral pipeline from architects, interior designers, landscape architects, developers, and general contractors. Top-of-funnel demand is generated through a portfolio-driven website, sustained industry award recognition (IES, Iconic Design, BEGA, GM Lighting, GE Edison), and editorial coverage in LD+A Magazine, Luxe Interiors + Design, Iconic Life, and Phoenix Home & Garden.
CDL is a privately held, founder-owned firm (Walter Spitz remains active as Principal and Senior Designer) with 11-50 employees and no disclosed external investors, parent company, or M&A activity. Geographic reach has expanded from a Scottsdale base into California, Nevada, Texas, Montana, and select international projects in Mexico. The firm's competitive position rests on credentialed talent (NCQLP LC certifications, PE registrations, IALD membership, IES committee participation), a documented portfolio of 100+ commercial projects, and a creative approach combining theatrical lighting heritage with formal training at Banford Center of Fine Arts.
Creative Designs in Lighting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Designs in Lighting
- Legal name
- Creative Designs in Lighting
- Website
- https://cdltg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative Designs in Lighting is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based architectural lighting design consultancy founded in 1978, providing interior and exterior lighting design, LED retrofit, and lighting control system services to enterprise hospitality, restaurant, retail, corporate, healthcare, and luxury residential clients across the U.S. and Mexico.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Designs in Lighting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Lighting Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Lighting Design & Layout (HSAIAHAA)
Keywords
Where Creative Designs in Lighting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Scottsdale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creative Designs in Lighting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Lighting Design Consulting Services: Professional lighting design services provided to commercial and residential clients on a project basis. Services include design concepts, construction drawings, and construction administration through final implementation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Creative Designs in Lighting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Designs in Lighting is a professional architectural lighting design consultancy providing interior and exterior lighting design for commercial, hospitality, retail, corporate, healthcare, and luxury residential projects. Services span concept design, master planning, photometric analysis, full-scale mockups and digital simulations, LED retrofit solutions, advanced lighting control system design and programming, LEED compliance, and precision aim-and-focus through construction administration. The firm works directly with property owners, developers, architects, interior designers, and contractors from project conception through final implementation.
Product overview
Creative Designs in Lighting (CDL) is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based architectural lighting design firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional lighting design services. Founded in 1978 by Walter Spitz, the company provides interior and exterior architectural lighting design, including Interior Architectural Lighting, Site and Landscape Lighting, Master Planning, Full-scale Mockups & Digital Simulations, Photometric Calculations, Comprehensive LED Retrofit Solutions, Energy Saving Lighting Control Solutions, Life Cycle Cost Calculations, Energy Analysis, LEED Compliance, Control System Design and Programming, and Aim and Focus services. CDL serves diverse market segments including restaurants, hotels/resorts, retail, luxury toy boxes, landscape/public art, urban living, clubhouses/amenities, corporate workspaces, health & wellness, houses of worship, arts/entertainment, and private residences. The firm is known for integrating cutting-edge LED technology with innovative design solutions to create dynamic and functional spaces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Interior Architectural Lighting Design Design of interior lighting systems for residential and commercial spaces, focusing on aesthetic appeal and functional illumination for hotels, restaurants, retail, corporate offices, and luxury residences.
- Site and Landscape Lighting Design Exterior lighting design for landscapes, public art installations, outdoor architectural features, monuments, and mixed-use developments, enhancing ambiance and highlighting architectural features.
- Master Planning for Lighting Comprehensive lighting planning services for large-scale developments and master-planned communities, creating cohesive lighting schemes across amenity centers, clubhouses, and community spaces.
- LED Retrofit Solutions Comprehensive design services for upgrading existing lighting systems to energy-efficient LED technology, providing energy and cost savings for commercial and residential clients.
- Lighting Control System Design and Programming Design, programming, and startup of advanced lighting control systems including dimmers, sensors, and automated controls, reducing energy consumption and creating dynamic scenes.
- LEED Compliance Lighting Design Lighting design and specification services supporting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements for sustainable building projects.
- Full-Scale Mockups and Digital Simulations Full-scale physical mockups and computer-based digital simulations that allow clients to preview lighting effects before final fixture installation and project completion.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2026 IES Phoenix Section Award of Distinction - Canyon Club at Robson Quail Creek
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Creative Designs in Lighting
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Creative Designs in Lighting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Creative Designs in Lighting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Creative Designs in Lighting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arup (Lighting Design practice): Global engineering consultancy with a dedicated architectural lighting design practice. Competes with CDL on larger integrated projects where lighting is bundled into broader MEP commissions, representing a structural threat to standalone boutiques.
- Buro Happold (Lighting Design practice): International engineering firm with a lighting design practice serving large commercial, cultural, and infrastructure projects. Comparable on technical deliverables (photometrics, controls, energy analysis) but operates as a broader multidisciplinary incumbent.
Direct peers
- Focus Lighting: New York-based architectural lighting design firm with comparable interior/exterior design work and theatrical-influenced design sensibility. Comparable to CDL in combining creative lighting design with technical specification across commercial and hospitality projects.
- Fisher Marantz Stone: Premier New York-based architectural lighting design consultancy with a comparable high-end hospitality, cultural, and luxury residential practice. One of the most recognized independent lighting design firms in the U.S., directly comparable to CDL in service mix, client caliber, and IALD-affiliated positioning.
- Tillett Lighting Design Associates: Architectural lighting design firm with theater-design heritage similar to CDL's founder background. Comparable in combining theatrical aesthetics with architectural lighting consulting across commercial and cultural projects.
- Kugler Ning Lighting Design: Lighting design consultancy with hospitality, cultural, and high-end residential focus. Directly comparable to CDL in service offering, project-based engagement model, and award-recognized portfolio.
- Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design: Award-winning architectural lighting design firm (formerly Brandston Partnership) with deep hospitality, cultural, and commercial portfolio. Direct peer to CDL in services offered, certification emphasis, and award-driven reputation strategy.
- One Lux Studio: Independent architectural lighting design firm serving commercial, hospitality, and residential clients. Comparable boutique firm offering the same suite of photometric, control system, and LED retrofit services as CDL.
- Lighting Design Alliance: Long-established Los Angeles lighting design consultancy serving hospitality, retail, commercial, and residential markets across the western U.S. Closely comparable to CDL in geographic footprint, segment focus, and project-based consulting model.
- Cline Bettr Bernstein Bernstein Lighting Design: International architectural lighting design consultancy with hospitality, retail, and museum portfolios. Direct peer to CDL in providing full-spectrum lighting design from concept through construction administration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Creative Designs in Lighting social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Designs in Lighting compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Creative Designs in Lighting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Designs in Lighting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Creative Designs in Lighting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Designs in Lighting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Designs in Lighting
What does Creative Designs in Lighting do?
Creative Designs in Lighting is a professional architectural lighting design consultancy providing interior and exterior lighting design for commercial, hospitality, retail, corporate, healthcare, and luxury residential projects. Services span concept design, master planning, photometric analysis, full-scale mockups and digital simulations, LED retrofit solutions, advanced lighting control system design and programming, LEED compliance, and precision aim-and-focus through construction administration. The firm works directly with property owners, developers, architects, interior designers, and contractors from project conception through final implementation.
Is Creative Designs in Lighting a public or private company?
Creative Designs in Lighting is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Creative Designs in Lighting founded?
Creative Designs in Lighting was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative Designs in Lighting based?
Creative Designs in Lighting is headquartered in Scottsdale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Designs in Lighting make money?
One revenue line is on record: lighting Design Consulting Services.
Who are Creative Designs in Lighting's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Arup (Lighting Design practice) and Buro Happold (Lighting Design practice). Direct peers are Focus Lighting, Fisher Marantz Stone, Tillett Lighting Design Associates, Kugler Ning Lighting Design, Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, One Lux Studio, Lighting Design Alliance and Cline Bettr Bernstein Bernstein Lighting Design.
Does Creative Designs in Lighting have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Designs in Lighting.
What industry is Creative Designs in Lighting in?
Creative Designs in Lighting's product category is Architectural Lighting Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAJ, Lighting Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 7330.