Product Sound Design: Intentional and Consequential Sounds

Abstract

In our daily life we are immersed in sounds that are generated by products. If one were to ask someone to name sounds produced by products, often sounds are mentioned that alarm or inform us ?e.g., microwave oven beeps, telephone rings etc.?. These are the sounds of which we are consciously aware. However, many sounds subconsciously play an important role in our interaction with a product. One hears if the battery of a toothbrush runs out of power? one hears the power of a vacuum cleaner and one hears if the bag is full? etc. “lthough these are all functional aspects, sound also plays a role in our aesthetic, quality, and emotional experi‐ ence of products. For example, one hears if the sound of a car door evokes a sense of quality. Car manufacturers have acoustical engineers to make sure that a slammed door will evoke this sense of quality. Sound quality and its relation to perception have been studied to some extent ?e.g., ”lauert & Jekosch, ????? ”odden, ????? Lyon, ?????. Often, these methodologies cover only one aspect of the design or evaluative process. Here we present a systematic approach to the inclusion of sound in the design process and its use as an essential aspect of controlling the quality of design and as a means of educating designers ?and students? about the constit‐ uent