Sound design: how sound is shaping the future of UX

Sound is everywhere, yet we rarely consider how deeply it shapes our daily experiences. Sonic Interaction Design (SID) goes beyond merely using sound; it transforms how people interact with products and services.

It's a rapidly growing discipline at the intersection of UX, technology, and emotional design, increasingly essential in our digital age.

What is sonic interaction design (SID)?

At its core, Sonic Interaction Design explores how sound enhances communication, usability, accessibility, and emotional connection within user experiences. While the term "sound" often refers to passive acoustic phenomena—waves traveling through the air—"sonic" specifically emphasizes interaction.

Sonic interactions actively engage users, facilitating communication between people, systems, and their environments. SID combines elements from interaction design, cognitive science, and traditional sound design, forming a rich interdisciplinary approach that also draws insights from anthropology and technology.

How sound enhances user experience

Sound enhances user experience through immediate feedback, confirming actions and alerting users to changes. The simple beep of an unbuckled seatbelt demonstrates this clearly.

In multisensory experiences, sound works with touch and visuals, as seen in Apple's Taptic Engine technology.

Sonification translates data into sound, crucial for accessibility and high-attention scenarios. Medical devices use this to convey vital information to professionals without requiring visual focus.

Sound also creates emotional connections—like Netflix's signature startup sound—while enabling voice interfaces and AR/VR environments.

When sound works — and when it doesn’t

Sound isn't always beneficial. Effective SID requires thoughtful restraint and strategic use of silence. Just as negative space is vital in visual design, silence in sonic design helps reduce auditory clutter, improving user focus and comfort.

Certain scenarios necessitate careful consideration:

• Products or services emphasizing privacy or discretion, where sound might feel intrusive.
• Environments requiring intense focus, where disruptive sounds diminish user productivity.
• Highly repetitive tasks, where repeated auditory feedback could become annoying and detrimental to the user experience.

Understanding when silence speaks louder than sound is crucial to designing thoughtful, user-centric sonic experiences.

What does a sound designer do?

A sound designer blends research, prototyping, and testing within UX teams. They create and refine auditory elements to enhance product interactions, build reusable sound libraries, and ensure effective implementation in collaboration with sound engineers and developers.

Their role includes rigorous user research, prototyping auditory experiences, and working closely with development teams to maintain sound quality and context appropriateness. Essentially, SID designers ensure that sound actively enriches the user experience rather than serving as a mere decorative addition.

Where SID is growing fast

SID is growing across sectors like voice interfaces (Alexa, Siri), VR/AR with spatial audio, and smart devices that need non-visual feedback. It's also transforming accessibility, helping visually impaired users better navigate digital systems.

Industries like automotive have embraced SID, designing specific auditory experiences for electric vehicles, enhancing both safety and user enjoyment. Leading brands from BMW to Renault actively invest in sonic experiences, recognizing their strategic importance.

How to introduce SID in a client-facing context

Introducing SID effectively to clients involves targeted, strategic approaches. Start with niche, high-impact areas—such as automotive interfaces, smart technology, or voice-driven products—to demonstrate clear benefits.

Educating clients about the functional and emotional value of sound is crucial. Offering user testing provides tangible evidence of SID’s return on investment. Highlighting SID as a market differentiator can position brands uniquely within competitive sectors.

Key takeaways

Sonic Interaction Design transcends mere sound. It’s an essential tool for creating intuitive, emotionally resonant, and accessible digital experiences. By understanding sound’s potential and limitations, designers can create impactful, memorable interactions.

As technology evolves, SID will undoubtedly become an even more integral part of the UX landscape, driving innovation and enhancing how we connect with digital systems and each other.

‍