Sound Design for User Experience

Aim

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• describe in detail how sound should be used in interaction design based on sonification, sonic interaction design, and communication theories.
• apply theories of sound design, sonification, and interaction design to analyze and evaluate sounds in user interfaces, extended reality, immersive experiences, visualization, and games.
• design and implement sonic interaction design to effectively convey a message or create an experience.

Content

In this course we study and explore sound as a communicative and experiential element in user experience design. The course addresses both technical and design-oriented perspectives on how sound can be used to convey information, support interaction, and create meaningful experiences in user interfaces, extended reality, visualization, games, and other interactive and immersive systems.

Through theory and practice, the course examines principles of sonic interaction design and sound design, as well as their foundations in sonification and communication theory. Students work hands-on with sound recording and sound technology, exploring procedural sound methods, and examine applications ranging from interface sounds to game audio and immersive environments. The course emphasizes the design, creation, and implementation of sound as an integrated part of interactive systems, with a focus on how sound shapes perception, understanding, and experience.