RL Solutions,
Toronto, CA

Problem: As physical and digital wayfinding systems evolve, they still often overlook the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Despite good intentions, designers and product teams frequently lack firsthand insight into these users’ lived experiences—resulting in communication barriers that limit autonomy and inclusion. How might we create

Empathetic content that reveals the experience of deaf individuals navigating everyday environments to inspire more inclusive wayfinding design.

Solution: A short video designed for visually-oriented thinkers, this piece animates the perspectives of Rachel Kolb as she navigates everyday communication as a deaf individual. By using expressive typography—forms that designers are intimately familiar with—the video pushes typographic form to its emotional and conceptual limits. The result is a visceral storytelling experience that reveals the often-overlooked nuances of deaf communication and builds empathy through a medium that resonates with design and product teams.