UX Sound as a central building block of the Auditive User Experience 🔔🔔
Aktualisiert: 28. März
From "beep" to code-based Sound Branding
We look back at the history of the beep and examine how technological developments, especially digitalisation, have influenced our listening behaviour.
A brief look back
The environment through artificially generated sounds has become part of our everyday life for decades. 1957 is considered a milestone in the history of beeping sound, as the first satellite sent synthetic sounds to earth. The first sound interaction that could be experienced by the public was represented by the first video game "Pong", released in 1966, which gave the player the first feedback information about his actions. Today, practically every human-machine communication is enriched with supporting sound interactions, which also strongly influence our listening habits.
Digitalisation challenges our hearing in new ways
Our age of digital transformation could be so pleasantly quiet - actually.
Especially in technological areas, it is more important than ever that we receive audible feedback (UX sound codes). Sound is a functional core component to give us orientation, provide information and enable interaction with machines.
Companies and brands today rely on UX Sounddesign, for example for
✅ a more intense brand experience using UX sound codes
✅ simplified and intuitive user guidance
✅ an acoustic aid within the customer experience
✅ an increase in brand value perception
✅ innovation building blocks within digital environments.
➡️Hier goes to our Auditive Experience (CX/UX) service area 🔔
Almost every device today emits a sound, from washing machines, cars, kitchen appliances to smart devices. However, what is intended as an operating aid can quickly become a challenge for our hearing due to the acoustic overload, which blocks out certain noises.
Alarm fatigue, as medical professionals refer to this protective function, occurs when an overwhelming number of alarms desensitise the people who are supposed to respond to the alerts, resulting in missed or ignored alerts or delayed responses.
UX sound design as an integral part of
code-based Soundbranding
In a world where technological environments are increasingly defined by sound, it is more important than ever for companies to develop a consciously designed user experience (UX). In the past, design was often left to artists, but this left the communicative potential untapped. On the one hand, a product-related sound must serve the user functionally, but on the other hand, it must also be a way to increase customer loyalty and recognition as well as to stand out from the competition.
Whereas a few years ago headphones were a completely silent commodity, today they are a multifunctional smart device with integrated auditory user guidance for a hands-and-eyes-free experience.
(Source: YouTube: @NobelTech)
Through a consistent brand strategy that combines product benefits, aesthetics and brand conformity, a unique user experience can be created or enhanced through product sound. This must necessarily be embedded in the acoustic corporate identity. In our beeping, noisy world, it is therefore more important than ever to define and occupy a specific acoustic niche.
Start now! Best Practice > Presentation
Alexander Thesing
Chief Creation Officer (CCO, ppa.) & Head of Science
"A unique Functional Soundsyntax is the result of a consistent brand strategy that combines aesthetics, brand conformity and product benefits. Strategic alignment and app-based control based on the Sonic Code, is a key building block for experiential brand and service communication."
Björn Wegener
UX Sound Design, Acoustic Science, Audio/Voice Consulting
"Our hearing is becoming more and more important as a navigational aid. It is sensitive, functions spatially, selectively and it is constantly actively learning. When creating functional brand and product sounds, we take advantage of these benefits while considering key sound ecology challenges to improve the acoustic user experience (UX) and make it more attractive."