Van Ness Gala
Immersive Future of Healthcare Event
Digital Experience Design
2019
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— To celebrate the debut of Sutter Health’s new state-of-the-art hospital, I led creative direction for this immersive black-tie gala experience with Britelite Immersive. Spanning five floors and 30+ interactive installations—from projection walls to holograms and a robotic surgery simulation—the event personalized each guest’s journey through Bluetooth wearables, offering a first-of-its-kind glimpse into the future of patient care.
To transform the hospital into a high-fashion, luxury experience, we built a design system rooted in the emotional intersection of science and patient care. Guided by the elemental forces of earth, water, light, and fog, the visual language combined geometric forms and striking black-and-white portrait photography to create a cohesive aesthetic across all installations. Each guest’s journey was personalized through a custom icon system that represented key patient paths, while printed materials—from invitations to event guides—extended the visual narrative, creating a seamless experience from the first touchpoint to the final moment of the gala.
The experience began in the hospital’s main entrance, where guests selected their personal journey—Emergency, Maternity, Surgery, or VIP—and received a Bluetooth wearable that guided their path. The story opened with the Living Wall, a 30′ projection-mapped interactive wall built in Touch Designer that represented the “earth” element of the design system. As guests moved, flowers bloomed and hummingbirds appeared, creating a moment of wonder that set the emotional tone for the evening. Surrounding wayfinding screens responded to each guest’s wearable, weaving technology and storytelling into a personalized welcome that bridged science and humanity.
Zone-based blooming flower animations rewarded dwelling visitors with easter egg butterflies and hummingbirds
EMERGENCY JOURNEY
The Emergency Journey was designed in close collaboration with Sutter’s physicians to simulate the fast-paced decision-making of an ER visit. Guests began by selecting an ailment—Double Vision, Chest Pain, or Difficulty Breathing—which personalized their experience throughout the department. The centerpiece of this journey was
a three-screen hologram kiosk built with a DreamOC display, where guests explored Sutter’s pioneering treatments for cranial blood clots, pediatric asthma, and heart attacks. The experience translated complex medical science into an engaging, holographic narrative that blended education, empathy, and innovation.
These 3D hologram models required finding the balance between scientific accuracy, design vision, and production speed.
MATERNITY JOURNEY
Overview
Guests were invited to experience the emotional arc of childbirth through an interactive, story-driven sequence that celebrated the state-of-the-art labor and delivery team at Sutter CPMC. Extending the event’s visual system, the design language combined water and circles to symbolize renewal and connection. The journey featured a two-screen Labor Simulation Game that immersed guests in the decisions and unpredictability of childbirth, alongside an interactive Community Mural that celebrated authentic patient stories from across San Francisco.
Built in Unity, this 90" digital mural showcased twenty real Sutter patient stories through a split-screen interactive map of San Francisco.
Surgery Journey
Vision
Guests on the Surgery Journey stepped into the role of a surgeon, guided through an interactive experience that revealed the precision and innovation behind Sutter’s robotic procedures. Collaborating closely with Sutter’s Robotic Surgery Committee, we designed a first-person game that transformed complex surgical procedures—like a hysterectomy and kidney tumor removal—into a competitive, educational encounter. Robotic surgery is groundbreaking, yet many patients fear that a robot is performing the procedure. This experience reframed that perception—turning uncertainty into confidence, helping guests understand and trust the human skill behind the robot. The Robotic Surgery Game became the most popular installation, attracting nearly 300 players and many more spectators.
Built on a Multi-Taction Table, this game flexed every creative muscle—including 3D Design, filmmaking, fabrication, and content strategy.
DR. KATHERINE HSAIO | SUTTER CPMC ROBOTIC SURGERY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
"You took incredibly complicated surgical procedures and turned them into an everyday teaching tool for the public. I can't thank you enough for your work on making robotic surgery approachable for our patients."
VIP Experience
Summary
The VIP Journey served as the crowning experience of the entire event. The elevator doors opened to wow guests with a space decked out with a floor-to-ceiling LED installation, custom engraving by Tiffany and the final digital experience—a split screen diamond-themed interface animated to feel like it was breathing in an out. After nearly a year of collaboration, the event drew 800 guests and generated over $1 million for Sutter CPMC—showcasing the scale, precision, and heart behind every moment of the project.
Built on a Multi-Taction Table, this game flexed every creative muscle—including 3D Design, filmmaking, fabrication, and content strategy.
