Designing sounds

Experiences in the sound environment

The sound environment affects how we feel, think, and work. At the same time, the visual framing and the context itself will, in turn, affect how we perceive the sound environment. It is, therefore, a complex interplay between the senses, and exactly what Designing sounds is all about.

We usually focus on the visual and tactile, but here we asked a sound designer to create some audio examples for us. Listen below and read about the different sounds.

All sounds are created for Svensson by sound designer Håkan Lidbo.

The interaction between the environment around us and our thinking

How should an environment be for us to be able to concentrate? Compare the three sounds:

Firstly, a noticeably "quiet" environment.

Then, a hotel lobby where we know that many can relax and work despite a constant hum of background noise.

The third sound is an example of how an abstract sound environment can be created to promote creative work. The sound example is specially designed for us and is based on current research.

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How the context affects the experience of what we hear

Unpleasant, stinging, and annoying when taken out of context. But what happens when we add layer after layer that explains what the first sound was?