Each assignment was formulated as: “ Design the sound of an energetic (not sluggish) ,” with being an electric toothbrush, a vacuum cleaner, or a washing machine. Sound examplesĪn initial experiment was conducted, in which three participants each received three assignments. Here’s an example of me creating the whooshing sound of a washing machine. In this way, product sound design is made tangible. For example: the speed of periodic volume fluctuations found at, e.g., washing machines is controlled by adjusting the length of a sine-like leather belt wrapped around two cylinders. Through their visual and tactile designs, these objects serve as physical representations of the synthesizer’s virtual sound parameters.

PSST consists of a dedicated product sound synthesizer, a collection of playful objects, and a table with a web-cam to track the objects on. Therefore, a concept for a Product Sound Sketching Tool (PSST) was developed as objective for a master’s thesis. Note: objects are tracked by means of the visual tags of the reacTIVision system Existing tools are focussed on musical sounds, and designers are often faced with their limited sound vocabulary when using tools that rely on semantics. However, designers currently lack a tool that facilitates sketching of product sounds. Sounding sketches have been proposed as communication method during the conceptual design phase. This framework essentially states that product sound design should be incorporated from the very beginning of the product development process. A framework for product sound design related communication has been put forward by Özcan & van Egmond. Contributing to the total user experience of a product (e.g., product functionality, identity, and satisfaction), it is important for designers to consider product sounds. In our daily lives we are surrounded by product sounds, whether it is the rattling of an electric toothbrush, or the whooshing sound of a washing machine. A Product Sound Sketching Tool for inexperienced product sound designers

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