How Children’s new digital wall is transforming community support

Children’s hospitals have long desired creative ways to balance creating a warm, inviting environment for patients and families while also recognizing donors appropriately. Traditional donor walls serve as important acknowledgments, but with recent technological advancements, healthcare facilities now have the opportunity to transform these static installations into new, creative and interactive experiences.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s), this vision became reality through an Interactive Giving Wall, an installation that gamifies philanthropy. Designed and fabricated by Dimensional Innovations (DI), this experience merges storytelling, technology and donor recognition to create a living digital landscape.

The Giving Wall has exceeded expectations since launching —attracting more than 100 donations in its first 90 days. The installation showcases how technology and design can redefine donor engagement in healthcare settings, inspiring generosity in a way that feels playful and rewarding, while not sacrificing the overall mission of the hospital.

A New Approach to Hospital Philanthropy

The idea for the Interactive Giving Wall stemmed from a growing need to make hospital donation experiences more engaging and meaningful. Traditional donor walls often blend into the background—displaying names on static plaques—but Children’s and DI envisioned something different: an interactive, game-like experience that would invite participation and spark joy.

The experience begins with an 18-foot x 8-foot LED wall featuring a living digital forest. Using an intuitive interface, visitors scan a QR code to “adopt” an animated woodland creature, which then appears on the screen in real time. Each donation brings the digital forest to life—allowing donors to find their animal again on future visits, reinforcing a sense of connection and community.

The goal was to create a low-barrier, high-reward giving experience that would appeal to patients, families and visitors alike. By making philanthropy interactive and visible, the installation fosters a sense of immediate impact—turning giving into a shared, celebratory event.

Construction and Materials: Balancing Technology and Durability

Bringing this immersive experience to life required a methodical approach tying together design, fabrication and installation. The high-resolution LED display was chosen for its exceptional clarity, brightness and ability to support continuous animation. To enable real-time interactions, DI developed a custom-built content management system, ensuring a straightforward integration of QR codes and animal tracking features.

Given the healthcare setting, durability and hygiene were key considerations—every component was fabricated using impact-resistant, hospital-friendly materials designed for high-traffic pediatric environments.

Incorporating adaptive lighting technology, the display adjusts to create a soft, ambient glow that aligns with the hospital’s calming aesthetic. Beyond the visual experience, ease of maintenance was a critical factor.

DI collaborated closely with the hospital’s IT team to implement backend controls that allow staff to update and monitor the system effortlessly, ensuring smooth operation without disrupting daily activities. DI also worked with the Children’s Foundation team to integrate the digital donations platform into a seamless donating experience.

Overcoming Design and Implementation Challenges

Creating an interactive installation in a healthcare setting came with unique challenges, requiring solutions to enhance user experience and accessibility. One of the primary concerns was ensuring that patients, visitors and donors of all ages could easily engage with the wall.

To achieve this, the interface had to be simple, intuitive and highly engaging. Extensive testing was conducted on the QR code donation system to guarantee fast loading times and easy mobile usage. Instant feedback mechanisms were also implemented—each donation triggers an immediate visual response. Accessibility was a priority, with large text, bright visuals and touch-free controls ensuring an inclusive experience for all visitors.

Another challenge stemmed from the installation’s location in a low-traffic, contemplative space. DI worked to create an element that would naturally prompt engagement with vibrant animations and graphics, while also melding with the aesthetics of a clinical care setting.

Long-term Engagement & Content Evolution

To maintain long-term engagement, the system was designed with scalability in mind. DI implemented features that allows for seasonal content updates such as winter animals or springtime blooms. New animations and donor recognition messages can be added over time, ensuring that the experience remains relevant.

Furthermore, donation prompts can be adapted to align with ongoing fundraising campaigns, keeping the initiative aligned with the hospital’s evolving philanthropic goals.

Recognizing Generosity Through Donor Installations

In addition to the Interactive Giving Wall, several other donor installations throughout the hospital celebrate the generosity of those who have contributed significantly to its mission, carrying the mission of the Wall throughout the hospital:

• Arthur M. Blank Tribute Wall – A 47-foot-long LED screen and a complementary floor-to-ceiling graphic honor Arthur M. Blank, whose foundation’s historic $200 million donation made the new hospital possible. The LED display illustrates Blank’s life and legacy through dynamic visuals and text, creating an immersive, larger-than-life tribute to his generosity and vision.
  Ripple Effect Donor Wall – A 20×10-foot LED screen recognizes the hospital’s influential donors with an ambient, water-themed display that shifts colors according to the time of day. Donor names float across the screen, rippling gently to evoke serenity and gratitude. Visitors can scan a QR code to search for specific donors, whose names first appear on a smaller circular display before transitioning seamlessly to the main screen. This elegant installation modernizes traditional donor walls by merging artistic design with digital innovation.
  Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Donor Display – Situated in the lobby of the nationally recognized Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Arthur M. Blank Hospital, this LED screen highlights key donors whose contributions have advanced life-saving programs and groundbreaking research. The display underscores the impact of generosity on patient outcomes and celebrates the 20-year partnership between the hospital and Aflac.

The Future of Interactive Philanthropy in Healthcare

The success of the Children’s Interactive Giving Wall represents a larger shift in how healthcare facilities are incorporating technology to enhance donor engagement. By merging gamification, storytelling and real-time digital interactions, the installation redefines how donors connect with a cause. More than just a fundraising tool, it transforms philanthropy into an interactive and joyful experience, resonating with both young patients and adult donors.

The results speak for themselves—within the first 90 days, the installation facilitated over 100 donations, demonstrating strong engagement and enthusiasm. By making donor recognition more interactive and memorable, this innovation promotes lasting relationships with supporters.

The Interactive Giving Wall at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is more than a donor recognition piece—it serves as a compelling blueprint for other health facilities that are looking to accomplish the same goals. For hospitals, nonprofits and fundraising teams, the success of this initiative emphasizes a key lesson: when you make giving fun, visible and rewarding, people respond.

Brandon Kuzara has seven-plus years of experience in Client Success, Account Management and Business Development. As Corporate and Healthcare Practice Director, he helps firms create modern, branded environments and assists healthcare facilities in designing engaging, health-focused spaces. Contact him at [email protected].