Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
A mixture of light, form, and intricate detail offers a lasting symbol of hope for donors, patients, and staff in the mission to create a world without cancer.
- Year
- 2024
- Sector
- Healthcare
- Location
- Boston, MA
Project Overview
When Dana-Farber Cancer Institute set out to reimagine its Institute Benefactors Wall, they wanted something that would celebrate their donors and serve as a compelling tool to inspire future giving. Given the wall is positioned in a highly visible area, it needed to go beyond a list of names and provide a moment of solace and inspiration to patients, families, and staff, too.
Acrylicize had never created a donor wall before. Our fresh perspective allowed us to approach this challenge without preconceptions, transforming a traditional donor recognition format into a work of art that expresses warmth, hope, and gratitude.
Benefactors Wall
"The reception of the piece confirms that our vision was realized—elevating a genre of recognition that is typically perfunctory into an experience that evokes a powerful emotional response."
Pandora Hess, Assistant Director of Donor Experience & Engagement at Dana-Farber
A Beacon of Hope
To gain an authentic understanding of the values, services and mission of Dana-Farber, our team visited their facilities in Boston, touring labs and clinical spaces. Understanding the emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, we sought to create something which, at its core, is designed to uplift and inspire. With Dana-Farber’s pioneering research and care in mind, we developed Beacon of Hope - a glowing, immersive installation.
We explored materials, light, and form to ensure the piece truly resonated with its environment and delivered on its purpose. The names of donors are illuminated, carved into Corian - an unconventional material choice, but selected for its ability to softly diffuse light. Traditionally used in high-end surfaces, Corian offers an artisanal quality, allowing us to create delicate, sculpted textures that subtly combine with light to reflect the rippling impact of each donor.
“Since the project's inception, our ambition has been to push the boundaries of innovation, reflecting Dana-Farber’s mission while bringing joy and surprise to every passerby.”
Ben Dudek, Design Director at Acrylicize
Etching the Corian
Developing Light Transparencies
Beyond Recognition
Beacon of Hope is a living, evolving testament to giving. Understanding that donor names would be added over the next decade, we carefully designed the layout to accommodate organic growth. Instead of clustering names in a rigid format, they are scattered across the wall, allowing for natural expansion while maintaining a clear and balanced composition.
To further activate the project and drive engagement, we collaborated with Owley Studios to create a set of films for Dana-Farber, telling the intimate story of Beacon of Hope within its unique context, from concept to completion. Additionally, we designed a refined, embossed card—elegantly housed in a custom envelope with ribbon tie, and inspired by the visual language of the donor wall—to recognize the impact of past and new donors and encourage the next generation to join in making a difference
Embodying Dana-Farber's Mission
The design and production process leading to Beacon of Hope was an embodiment of Dana-Farber’s mission, mirroring the institute’s relentless pursuit of progress, care, and healing. Every element of the piece - from its material choices to its glowing form - reflects the same principles that drive the Institute’s cancer research and treatment: innovation, precision, and humanity.
CREDITS
Photography
Owley Studios
Videography
Owley Studios
Fabricators
Crozier Fine Arts
