Chris Laing – director of the Silent Buttons campaign – tells us about the inspiration behind the project 

Hi Chris, firstly can you introduce who you are and what you do? 

I’m an architectural designer currently studying my Part 3 qualification to become a fully qualified architect. I’ve been working at Haworth Tompkins for over seven years, but in the past two years I’ve gone part-time to focus more on activism, campaigning, and consulting through Deaf Architecture Front (DAF), which I founded.

I’m Deaf and a BSL user. DAF was created to build a bridge between the Deaf community and the field of architecture. I’m also the founder of Signstrokes, which focuses on developing BSL architectural terms.

How did you first get involved with Silent Buttons?

I was awarded the Adam Reynolds Award in 2024 by Shape Arts, who I collaborated with on this project. I’ve felt for a long time that there are barriers that make public spaces feel unsafe for Deaf people. Society seems obsessed with hearing loops, but that doesn’t reflect the full Deaf community – many of us don’t use hearing devices. 

I personally haven’t worn hearing aids in 6 -7 years. I often worry about getting trapped in lifts, which are designed with hearing devices in mind but offer no BSL access. Hearing loops aren’t enough – they’re not sufficient or inclusive for everyone in the Deaf community.

What was your personal inspiration behind it?

I’ve been trapped in a lift before, and it caused me to have a panic attack. I had no idea what was being said, or how long it would take for someone to come and help. If there had been a BSL video, it would’ve reassured me and let me know that help was on the way. That experience really stuck with me.

What does the film Silent Buttons show?

Silent Buttons highlights a range of everyday scenarios where Deaf people face barriers from being at home when a break-in happens, to being trapped in lifts, to help points on the Tube, as well as running taps and security alarms. There are so many layers to these situations, and the film tries to shine a light on them.

How was the whole process? Did it all go to plan?

It was a great and fun experience to create a short film! It was my first time doing something completely different from my usual architectural work. I learned a lot during the process – starting with storyboarding, which helped define the script and the overall structure. 

Working with the amazing filmmaker Sam Ash and actor Hermon Berhane made it really special. On set, it was a bit stressful managing time and making sure we covered every scene, but overall it was a success!

Was it your first time directing? If so, how did you find this?

Yes, it was my first time directing, and it was a really rewarding experience. If I were to do it again, I’d definitely plan out the scenarios in more detail – especially how many we could realistically film in one day. 

I would love to have had an extra day just to give us more space and time. But overall, I think I did well, and I’m proud of what we achieved.

If I do more films in the future, I’d approach it with even more detailed planning from the start – especially around time and storyboarding. That makes a huge difference.

What kind of response do you hope to get from Silent Buttons?

I want to raise awareness because nobody really talks about this in public. I hope Transport for London and others take it seriously. 

The Deaf community does matter, especially in emergencies. Relying on hearing loops alone isn’t enough. 

Even if only one Deaf person uses a help point or gets stuck in a lift, there should already be accessible BSL communication available. That’s what inclusion really means.

What’s next for you, career-wise?

The next step is becoming a qualified architect! But I’ll definitely continue doing this important work through Deaf Architecture Front. There’s still so much to be done to improve how the built environment works for Deaf people. I want to encourage more Deaf people to speak up when design doesn’t work for them.

What advice would you give to Deaf youth or those who want to produce films for Deaf audiences?

Don’t be afraid to explore bold, new ideas. If you’re a visual thinker, start with storyboards – that’s your strength. Storyboarding can lead you smoothly into filmmaking. Just enjoy the process and let your visual language lead the way.

Happy Deaf Awareness week!

To find out more about the Silent Buttons campaign see: https://www.shapearts.org.uk/Listing/Category/explore-silent-buttons