Silent Buttons

A lack of consideration for Deaf people in urban systems, architecture and infrastructure can create – and reinforce – their feeling of exclusion from society. Silent Buttons is a campaign film that highlights these inequities in city life.

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Directed by Chris with the support of Shape Arts as part of the 2024 Adam Reynolds Award, the film follows the everyday life of Hanna, an independent Londoner, showing the barriers she experiences as a deaf person on at home, on public transport and in her work environment. By focusing on relatable scenarios and using a Deaf-led cast and crew, the project emphasises the urgent need for inclusive design practice, stronger access provision and greater representation in decision-making.

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We hope the film will spread the word, bring new audiences into the conversation and prompt ideas about how we might be able to dismantle these inequities – and ultimately build stronger communities.