1. family and parenting
2. children

Creative Machines | Interactive Experiences for Children’s Hospitals
“A children’s hospital is the perfect setting
for this fun work of art.”
- The Carmel Hill Fund
Incrediball Circus II
Air Rockets
Front Page
Creative play has long been explored by doctors
and researchers as a valuable method for helping
children reduce stress and promote healing.1 We
believe that play should be an essential component
to a child’s hospital experience. In the pages that
follow, we introduce ourselves, discuss the role of
creative play in healing, how hospitals have used
creative play to help their patients, and how we
can build upon these efforts to make hospitals a
welcoming and healing place for children.
Texas Rising
Animation Workstation
Discovery Carts
Waterworks
Perone, A. (2014, Summer). Healing with(in) imaginative play. Child Life
Council Bulletin 32(3), 8.asdasd
1.
Creative Play & Healing
“I have the highest regard for their work
in terms of design, fabrication, installation,
and service. I highly recommend them
for any project requiring interactive and
multimedia exhibits related to science,
technology, math, engineering, and art.”
- Joe Hastings, Explora
Bernoulli Worktable
Fish Bellies
Wind Lab
Bloom
Creative Machines is a group of visionary artists, engineers and fabricators
that designs and builds interactive objects and experiences. Since 1995, we
have been making dynamic projects for museums, science centers, libraries,
transit stops, trade shows, parks, festivals, university campuses, and
hospitals and waiting rooms across the globe.
Seedpods
Archimedean Excogitation
Dark Waters
about
Creative Machines
We begin each project with extensive research, brainstorming, and testing
to understand the visitor experience. We create experiences that are
immersive and empowering. Often the people who encounter our work
become so engaged in play and exploration they lose track of time and
forget their surroundings. Beyond a simple distraction, we give people the
power and encouragement to stretch their imagination and discover new
abilities within themselves.
Chockablock Clock
Bike Church
For the last ten years, we have been developing safe and
enjoyable approaches to bringing play into healing spaces. We
have developed a series of interactive objects and experiences
that are already being used to great success in hospitals and
waiting rooms. Below is a list of recent and current clients:
The Launcher
Simple Machines
Circuits
Creative Machines
more about
Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital
Akron Children’s Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital
Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital
ProHealth CARE Regional Cancer Center & Ambulatory Campus
Shriner’s Hospital for Children
Square & Compass Children’s Clinic
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital
VA Palo Alto Heath Care System
“Not only does Creative Machines have
wonderfully creative ideas, but they listened
to us, and designed exhibits that met our
needs.”
- Karen Johnson, Executive Director of
Discovery Science Center
Bubble Chambers
Through the eyes of a child, a hospital is a big, scary place
where much is out of their control. This creates stress. One of
the most powerful and effective means of reducing a child’s
stress is play.2 Research confirms this and suggests ways in
which we can improve the hospital experience for children
and their families.
Studies done in hospital settings by researchers from Yale
University, University of California and in the U.K. show that
children involved in interactive therapeutic puppet shows,
drawing, and other creative activities designed to prepare
them for surgery exhibit less anxiety, are more cooperative,
and ultimately have better hospital experiences.3 4 5
Many hospitals appreciate the need for creative and
therapeutic play and have established child life programs.6
These programs often include trained specialists who use
play-based techniques to help reduce the stress and anxiety
that many children experience in healthcare settings.
Research into the benefits of these programs show that child
life services help to shorten hospital stays and reduce the use
of analgesics during recovery.7
Research shows that a playroom setting also can reduce
stress.8 Having a special place to play allows children to be
active while in the hospital and increases their feelings of
having control over what is happening to them.2
Researchers distinguish between directed play—such as
playing video games or solving puzzles—and creative play—
such as constructing a building or creating a story. While both
forms of play provide distraction for children, creative play
does a better job of stimulating the development of cognitive
abilities that allow them to adjust and cope better in stressful
environments.9 Creative play offers tangible benefits to both
the patient and the hospital.
Building with Light
Pulse Tower
Build Wall Build Bench
Computer Controlled Mirror
Jesse, P; Wilson, H.; & Morgan, D. “Medical Play for Young Children,”
2
Childhood Education, 2000, v 76, i 4, p 215.
Zahr, L.K. “Therapeutic play for hospitalized preschoolers in Lebanon,”
Pediatric Nursing, 1998, v 23, pp 449-454.
4
Visintainer, M. & Wolfer, J. “Psychological Preparation for Surgical
Pediatric Patients: The Effect on Children’s and Parents’ Stress
Responses and Adjustment,” Pediatrics, 1975, v 56, i 2, pp 187-203.
5
Carroll, J. “Play Therapy: The Children’s Views,” Child and Family Social
Work, 2002, i 7, pp 177-187.
6
www.childlife.org
7
“Child Life Services,” Pediatrics, 2000, v 106, i 5, p 1156.
8
Carson, David K.; Jenkins, Jeanette; & Stout, C. Bondred “Assessing
Child Life Programs: Study Model With a Small Number of Subjects,”
Children’s Health Care, 1985, v 14,
i 2, p 123.
9
Russ, S. Playt, “Creativity and Adaptive Functioning: Implications for
Play Interventions,” Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 1998, v 27, i 4,
pp 469-480.
3
Play Promotes Healing
“Creative Machines is among the top
firms worldwide for the engineering
and fabrication of complex interactive
exhibits. They excel in the engineering
and fabrication of exhibits, the integration
of sophisticated technology with highly
accessible experiences, and the pairing of
multimedia with traditional interactives.”
- Rickard Larsson, INSPIRIA Science Center
Jump Time
Many hospitals have designated areas that act as playrooms for
their child or teen patients. These areas provide a place for children
to get out of their room and interact with other children. A typical
playroom consists of toys, equipment for drawing/painting, board
games, video games, televisions and other activities that provide
entertainment and diversion.
We feel there is an opportunity to do more. The types of interactive
experiences we propose would meet the following goals:
-engages more of the patient’s SENSES
-provides opportunities for patients to use their LARGE motor skills
-gives patients the opportunity to BUILD something bigger than
themselves
-offers patients a SOCIAL environment where they can interact
with others
-provides a forum for patients to DISPLAY their work to parents
and other patients
-encourages sustained INVOLVEMENT with open-ended challenges
such as making movies or building structures (i.e. challenges that
can motivate days or weeks of involvement)
-creates UNIQUE experiences for patients that feel more special than
off-the-shelf toys and media
-easy to CLEAN for ongoing use by patients
Bubble Chambers
-provides a MUSICAL
experience for patients especially those who
are visually impaired
-becomes MOBILE for patients who are unable to leave their room
Finally, play doesn’t have to be geared only towards children or
limited to a playroom. Researchers are starting to explore the
impact of imaginative play on adults as a method of healing.1
Many of our projects appeal to adults and children alike and can
be located in general waiting rooms, atria, or stairwells.
Zippy Zoo
Bernoulli Worktable
Wind Lab
Perone, A. (2014, Summer). Healing with(in) imaginative play. Child Life
Council Bulletin 32(3), 8.asdasd
1.
Future of Creative Play
“They have separated themselves from
typical fabrication firms through their
exceptional ability to solve complex design
challenges by integrating sophisticated
technology and mechanical systems that
achieve highly accessible and engaging
experiences.”
- Mat Stalberger, Thinkery Austin
Circuits
Our years of experience developing environments for children’s
museum, science centers, and family friendly events has given
us special insight into designing for play. Our goal is to combine
creative, therapeutic, and traditional play activities to create an
experience that appeals to children, their families, hospital staff
and also potential donors.
Each hospital’s needs are different. Many of our projects have
involved collaboration. We can work with your staff to develop
activities that encourage creative play that will enhance your
patients’ hospital visit. Or we can provide a series of experiences that
have proven successful in other institutions, but can be customized
to meet the unique needs of your hospital. The following projects
each meet not one but many of our goals:
Watercolor Wall SENSES SOCIAL DISPLAY UNIQUE CLEAN
Watercolor Wall allows patients to paint a wall with just a touch. By
holding a finger on a touch point, visitors can change areas of the
wall to whatever color they choose. Countless color variations are
possible.
Building With Light SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE CLEAN DISPLAY INVOLVEMENT MOBILE
Building With Light allows patients to build with acrylic TETRIS
pieces creating designs on top of a color changing surface giving
people the feeling that they are building with color. Patients can
use touch points to control the rows of colored LEDs to transform
their creations.
Watercolor Wall
Summer Fantasy / Winter Fantasy SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE MUSICAL
Summer and Winter Fantasy are two versions of our limited edition
Ball Machine Sculptures. These small yet mesmerizing sculptures
delight people of all ages with their swirling track, bouncing balls,
and vibrant colors.
Beat Bender SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE CLEAN MOBILE INVOLVEMENT
Beat Bender is an electronic drum that turns everyone into a
musician. By simply tapping the metal circles, patients can play a
wide variety of sounds creating simple or complex compositions.
Building with Light
How we can help
Winter Fantasy
Beat Bender
Animation Workstation SENSES CLEAN MOBILE UNIQUE INVOLVEMENT DISPLAY
Animation Workstation allows patients to create their own stopmotion animations by moving objects on a stage and taking a series
of still “frames.” Recording is fast and efficient. Previous designs
have been used in patients’ rooms.
Custom Ball Machine Sculpture SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE MUSICAL
We also create larger custom Ball Machine Sculptures filled with
ingenious devices and charming miniatures that can reflect a
specific theme or location. Children and families love to watch
these playful machines during every visit.
Fish Bellies SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE LARGE
Fish Bellies is an interactive sculpture that invites patients to climb
into the interlocking series of glowing enclosures. Each “belly” has
two touch sensors which allow people to curate the sculpture’s
color creating their own mini-environment.
Walk On Piano MUSICAL CLEAN SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE LARGE DISPLAY INVOLVEMENT
Walk On Piano is a human-size musical instrument made to be
played with your feet. Children love playing on this two-octave
piano making real tunes and exploring the joy of music.
Animation Workstation
Rolling Ball Construction Set SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE LARGE BUILD DISPLAY INVOLVEMENT
This Construction Set allows patients to build a ball machine of
their own. Using a metal scaffolding, tubes, devices, and a lifter,
people can design a machine that rolls, swirls and catch balls.
Simple Machines
Bippity Boppity Balls
Walk on Piano
Simple Machines SENSES LARGE BUILD DISPLAY SOCIAL UNIQUE INVOLVEMENT
Simple Machines is a metal wall that allows patients to construct a
series of assemblies using pegs, magnetic gears, rubber track, and
PVC tube. Users can create roller coasters to roll balls or geared
machines to turn objects overhead.
How we can help
Virtual Graffiti SENSES CLEAN SOCIAL UNIQUE DISPLAY INVOLVEMENT
Virtual Graffiti allows patients to leave their mark on a virtual wall.
Users can choose a color, press the button on an electronic spray
can, and paint away. Paintings can be saved and viewed on the
Internet.
Bloom SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE CLEAN
Bloom is a group of 14 colorful kinetic sculptures. Each ‘bloom’
pinwheel is connected to a motor and slowly rotates. A panel allows
patients to control the spinning pinwheels through touch points.
The chance to control the pinwheels enchants children and adults
alike.
Computer Controlled Mirror SENSES SOCIAL UNIQUE CLEAN DISPLAY
Computer Controlled Mirror is a flexible mirror attached to
15 computer controlled motors. Patients can choose between
programs like “tall and short,” “wiggle foot,” and “belly dance.” The
mirror brings smiles to patients’ faces as it dynamically transforms
their reflection.
Any of these experiences can establish positive touchstones that
families associate with the hospital beyond their visit. They also
offer a way for hospitals to differentiate themselves and generate
opportunities to attract funding from corporate or individual
donors.
All of these projects are built for public use, and we design for
longevity. For these reasons, we use materials and fabrication
methods that are meant to endure. We have extensive experience
integrating interactive exhibits and artwork in both public and
private spaces and are happy to work with design teams, contractors
and maintenance staff to successfully install your project.
Computer Controlled Mirror
We are also open to creating new interactive experiences for
children’s hospitals. We can create drawings, renderings, and
three-dimensional models to help you visualize the project. We do
everything under one roof: design, fabrication, and installation.
We hope you found one of these projects inspiring and we look
forward to working with you!
Building with Light
How we can help
Bloom
Virtual Graffiti
“Creative Machines is unique in their approach, inventiveness
and the quality of their work. They provided a confidence
that made the most fearful in our group feel at ease. Their
‘can do’ attitude, approach to problem solving, creativity,
attention to our needs, and complete commitment to the
importance of the visitor experience is testimony to their
professionalism. The gallery they created for us is truly
remarkable and I believe raises the standards for interactive
galleries in art museums for years to come.”
- Lynn Whitelaw, Director, Leepa Rattner
Museum of Art
Newton’s Daydream
3 1 1 3
E
T U C S O N ,
T
C O L U M B I A
S T .
A R I Z O N A , 8 5 7 1 4
520.294.0939
F
520.294.0848
W W W . C R E AT I V E M A C H I N E S . C O M