Celebrating Neurodiversity With an Umbrella Sky

CHALLENGE

A compelling design was required for Arriva to support their partnership with the ADHD Foundation and create an ‘Umbrella Bus’ to celebrate neurodiversity.

INSPIRATION

The Foundation’s Umbrella Project returned to Church Alley in Liverpool city centre (in front of the Bluecoat) for the third consecutive year in 2019 and sees a suspended canopy of coloured umbrellas. The installation celebrates the gifts, talents and employability of those who are neurodiverse, and is part of a wider education project to raise awareness about neurodiversity and challenge stigma and discrimination.

IF Agency used the umbrella imagery and created an interior design for the ceiling of one of Arriva's electric buses. The umbrella vinyl will stay on the bus for the remainder of its service, to show customers and staff that support is available.

ADHD FOUNDATION

Now in its twelfth year, ADHD Foundation is a leading mental health charity and the largest ‘user-led’ ADHD agency in Europe, supporting more than 5,000 families every year with children and young people living with ADHD, and delivering training to over 15,000 professionals across the UK annually, including teachers, nurses and doctors. The ADHD Foundation works in partnership with individuals, families, doctors, teachers and other agencies to improve emotional wellbeing, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self-management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, Irlen’s Syndrome, dyscalculia and Tourette’s Syndrome.

For more information about the ADHD Foundation and the great work they do visit https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk

You can also follow them on Twitter @ADHDFoundation and Facebook @adhdfoundation using the hashtag #UmbrellaProject