Do you want a grid style panel, or a specific word or phrase?
I built four name-in-lights boards over 20 years ago using 555, 4017 and 2N3904 devices. Each transistor drove between four and six LEDs, and the circuit can be modified for a changing flash rate or other lighting requirements. A panel version would have rows and columns of LEDs connected by common polarity in each direction, and will be labour intensive and costly in resources. My signs were built with less than 50 LEDs per sign. I don't know how many signs are still working, I lost track of the recipients.