Project Profile: Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Urgent Care – Pediatrics Wing Acrylic Experiential Graphics

Location: Toccoa, Georgia

Client/Facility: Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Urgent Care

Overview

NGPG’s Toccoa urgent care serves families at high-stress moments—especially in pediatrics, where anxiety, uncertainty, and sensory overload can peak quickly. This project reframed the Pediatrics Wing from a sterile corridor experience into a welcoming, story-led environment that helps children (and caregivers) feel oriented, comforted, and even a little delighted—an approach aligned with Miller EG Design’s experiential wayfinding philosophy.

Design Intent

From clinical neutrality to child-centered “place”
The acrylic installations function as experiential wayfinding: rather than relying only on directories and arrows, the environment itself becomes a navigational cue. Bold, playful vignettes—rolling hills, sun/moon motifs, clouds, stars, and woodland characters—provide memorable identifiers that help families recall where they’ve been and where they’re going (“the bunny wall,” “the night sky mural,” “the bear and deer”).

A narrative that reduces stress

The graphics create a simple, readable story world: day-to-night skies, patterned landscapes, and approachable animal figures. This story layer does practical work: it softens the perceived wait, supports calmer transitions between spaces, and gives staff and caregivers easy language for reassurance and directions.

What Was Installed

Dimensional acrylic character sets (Pediatrics Wing)

Across corridors and key wall moments, the project introduces layered, dimensional acrylic pieces—including animals (bear, deer, rabbit, fox, raccoon), clouds, trees, florals, leaves, stars, sun and moon elements. The style balances flat color fields with selective patterning (dots and texture fills), creating depth without visual clutter.

Large-scale scenic wall moments as landmarks

The hill-and-sky compositions read like “portals” or framed scenes—strong, centralized compositions that act as destination markers within the wing. These big, graphic landscapes establish identity instantly and provide consistent continuity as people move through the area.

Material + Fabrication Considerations

Why acrylic works in healthcare pediatrics

Acrylic is ideal here because it supports both experience and performance:

Durability & cleanability: smooth, non-porous surfaces align with healthcare maintenance needs and frequent cleaning.
Dimensionality without risk: adds tactile depth and visual interest while maintaining controlled edges and predictable wall behavior.
Color fidelity: saturated, high-contrast hues stay crisp under typical ceiling grid lighting and long corridors.
Modularity: individual elements can be replaced if damaged without redoing an entire wall.

Installation approach

The pieces are installed as stand-off dimensional elements with consistent spacing and alignment, suggesting a deliberate “gallery” logic rather than scattered decoration. This matters: the spacing and grouping keep the wing feeling designed, not improvised—supporting trust and comfort in a clinical setting.

Wayfinding Performance

Instead of asking families to process signage when stressed, the space provides instant visual anchors:

Big scenic walls act like “you are here” moments.
Character groupings create memorable points along corridors.
The repeated sky/landscape language provides continuity and helps users understand they are still within the pediatrics experience zone.

Landmark-based navigation

Relationship to the Larger Signage Scope

This pediatrics experiential layer was delivered within a broader signage package that included:

Exterior building letters/logos (visibility + brand presence)
Road entrance signage (first decision point + arrival confidence)
Receptionist signage (check-in clarity + first interior orientation)

Together, the exterior and interior systems operate as one journey: arrive confidently, check in smoothly, and move into a pediatric environment that feels safe, friendly, and legible.

Community Identity and “Soft Branding”

Rather than overtly branding every surface, the Pediatrics Wing uses a “soft branding” approach: a consistent visual language that feels local, warm, and approachable. The woodland motifs and optimistic color palette create a gentle regional resonance—an environment that reads as care-centered rather than purely institutional.

Outcomes

Transformed pediatrics from a sterile corridor experience into a welcoming, child-friendly destination
Added experiential wayfinding landmarks that reduce stress and improve intuitive navigation
Delivered a durable, maintainable solution suited to healthcare operations
Reinforced NGPG’s commitment to patient experience—especially for young children and families—through environmental storytelling