Problem:
As physical and digital wayfinding systems become more sophisticated, they still often fail to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Designers and product teams, while well-intentioned, frequently lack direct insight into the lived experiences of these users—leading to communication barriers that limit autonomy and inclusion.

How might we share the everyday experiences of deaf individuals navigating public and digital environments to build empathy and 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.