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Wish Fountain Turns Your Text Message Into a Light Show

03.28.23 | By
Wish Fountain Turns Your Text Message Into a Light Show

When creative studio SOSO was tapped to design a surprise and delight moment in a newly revived building, they dreamed up Wish Fountain. Inspired by San Diego’s natural ocean environment, the interactive art installation mimics a wishing well and the surface of its water once a coin is tossed in. For visitors to interact with Wish Fountain, all they need to do is send a text message to a posted phone number – it can be an image or words – answering a prompt that’s displayed on nearby screens.

people interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

Each wish is kept a secret, thanks to a cloud server that pulls from online visual resources to decipher the content of each message. The wishes are then transformed into a colorful light show that travels across a rippled round bench and over wall-mounted screens. Wish Fountain is visible to all entrances and levels of the building, giving viewers the chance to impact their environment.

girl interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

woman interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

people interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

detail of a circular installation in a building's lobby

people interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

closeup of a person messaging on their phone

detail of a circular installation in a building's lobby

woman interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

people interacting with a circular installation in a building's lobby

To learn more about Wish Fountain, visit sosolimited.com.

Photos by Ty Cole.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.