Imaginary Worlds for Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Turning a hospital visit into a magical journey with responsive, biophilic design.
Overview
Hospitals can be intimidating places for children. For the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital, the goal was to create a lobby experience that offered immediate relief and distraction. We moved away from passive screens to create "Imaginary Worlds"—a responsive digital environment that acts as a window into a fantastical version of nature. By grounding the design in biophilia, we tapped into the proven calming effects of nature, giving patients, families, and staff a shared moment of wonder before they even reach the front desk.
Services
Concept Design, Visual Experience Design, Software Design, Prototyping
The Details
The installation features a massive interactive wall populated by whimsical hybrid creatures—like a "mouse-butterfly" or "flamingo-giraffe"—that don't just move on screen, but actually bond with the visitors. Using advanced tracking, these digital companions "adopt" a child, faithfully following them as they move through the lobby. The environment shifts with the time of day, toggling between beach, forest, and waterfall scenes to ensure that the hospital feels like a living, breathing ecosystem rather than a static clinical space.
