Boston Children’s Hospital’s Employee Gratitude Display
Boston Children’s Hospital is using interactive art to address caregiver burnout—and a gratitude wall is at the center of its approach.
Working with Boston-based design and technology studio SOSO Limited, the hospital developed “Gratitude Canvas,” a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen mounted on a wheeled pedestal standing approximately 6 feet tall by 2 feet wide.
The installation displays an animated tapestry of thank-you messages written by and for caregivers, functioning simultaneously as an artistic intervention and a behavioral health tool.
“Gratitude isn’t just a nicety—it’s a protective factor,” says Dr. Amy Vinson, chief wellness officer for the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. “When people feel seen and appreciated, they are more resilient, more engaged, and better able to care for others.”
Interactive display designed to support staff morale
The design intentionally minimizes barriers to participation. Rather than requiring apps, logins, or kiosks, staff submit messages via text to a number displayed on the screen.
“The project prioritized an inclusive, low-friction user experience,” says Eric Gunther, co-founder and creative director at SOSO Limited.
Drawing on research linking gratitude to improved team morale, stronger workplace culture, and reduced burnout, the installation launched in the hospital’s anesthesiology department, with plans to rotate it across other departments over time.
