Illustrated AtlantiCare Pediatric Mural Wall

AtlantiCare

Overview.
AtlantiCare is a healthcare organization based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, serving patients across the region, including pediatric care from newborns through young adults.

Project.
AtlantiCare reached out to Pixel Parlor’s team to create a series of murals for their pediatric wing, building on the space’s existing ocean-themed mosaics with a more immersive visual experience for young patients.

Team.
Design & Illustration – Kelly Nichols
Elevation Framework – Laura Hicklin
Agency – Pixel Parlor
Direction – Jenn Richey-Nicholas, Kelly Nichols
Photography – Sahar Coston-Hardy

Award.
2020 American Graphic Design Award (Graphic Design USA)

I approached the project with the goal of transforming the space through whimsical illustrations, interactive elements, and small surprises throughout. Using blueprints and photos of the ward, I planned how each wall would connect before sketching the mural scene by scene.

Black-and-white elevation drawing for AtlantiCare’s Surf Shack pediatric mural, framed by colorful ocean graphics.

The main challenge was creating a cohesive mural that wrapped around the entire wing while making the space feel less intimidating for young patients. I developed a welcoming seascape that drifts further out to sea as visitors travel through the ward, beginning with an orange octopus flying a kite as the visual foundation. From this scene, I built the color palette used throughout the mural.

Colorful AtlantiCare underwater mural featuring a friendly octopus, yellow submarine, fish, jellyfish, coral, and treasure chest.

AtlantiCare pediatric mural color palette shown across six smiling starfish in blue, orange, green, navy, yellow, and purple.

The final mural spans 21 walls, guiding patients from the Atlantic City shoreline into playful underwater scenes throughout the unit. Local landmarks, native wildlife, and an I-Spy game add a sense of place and encourage patients to interact with the environment.

All photography © Sahar Coston-Hardy

AtlantiCare pediatric wing mural installed across a hospital hallway, showing a pirate walrus, sailing ship, whale, and underwater sea life.

Colorful indoor amusement park with a mural featuring animals and a ferris wheel, and a girl standing near a wall with cartoon-like illustrations of an elephant, a smiling sun, and carnival rides, with a welcome sign for Atlantic City.

Reception area of a facility with colorful beach-themed decor including seashells, starfish, and lifebuoys, featuring a sign for Surf Shack established in 1993, and a lifeguard on duty notice.

Colorful mural with a castle, sea creatures, and underwater scene on hospital corridor walls.

Hospital corridor with colorful ocean-themed wall mural, including a pink fish playing drums, a blue octopus, a red crab, and various sea creatures and musical notes. A blurred child is walking past. There are signs indicating staff lounge and nurse

Colorful underwater scene mural on hospital hall wall featuring a ship, dolphin, fish, octopus, crab, jellyfish, and a boy riding a shark, with vibrant aquatic plants and coral.

Two hospital doors, one purple and one yellow, with ocean-themed murals featuring dolphins, fish, and coral. A painted rainbow arches above a dolphin spouting water in the middle.

Colorful ocean-themed mural painting on hospital hallway wall featuring a dolphin, starfish, jellyfish, fish, and a seahorse, with a lighthouse and sailboat in the background.

A brightly colored hospital hallway with ocean-themed murals, including a whale, pirate ship, and various sea creatures, along with yellow, purple, and blue doors.

Colorful play area wall with a sign titled 'Step right up!' that invites children to find various illustrated objects and animals, such as a seagull, starfish, horses, snail, birdhouse, beach, elephant's tail, ants, taffy, clouds, balloons, and more.

Hospital room with a hospital bed, medical equipment, and colorful ceiling tiles featuring ocean-themed illustrations, including a starfish, octopus, crab, and a girl in snorkeling gear.

Coloring book.
After the mural was installed, AtlantiCare asked us to adapt the artwork into a coloring book. The Land and Sea Adventures features eight pages inspired by the 21-wall mural, giving patients another way to engage with its characters, textures, and local sea life.

Outcome.
The finished mural transformed AtlantiCare’s pediatric wing into a colorful environment built around comfort, curiosity, and play.

Colorful illustrated amusement park scene with carousel, Ferris wheel, fireworks, pirate ship, animal figures, seagull, and umbrella on a yellow background.

Coloring pages with beach and ocean scenes, including a lighthouse, fish, palm trees, and an octopus, laid out on a yellow background with starfish, seaweed, and a purple starfish decoration.

Cartoon beach scene with a yellow sandcastle, a pink snail, a blue shovel, a red bucket, a striped beach chair, and the words "Thank you!" in the center.