Sound design for Interaction

We are very excited to announce an event that we've been wanting to run for years. This month we are going deep on sound design for interaction. In conjunction with Alex Crowfoot (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcrowfoot/)from Futurice, we will be joined by Henry Daw (https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrydaw/) and guests to talk you through their work and approach to UI sound design.

Why we're covering this

Most of our analogue world gives us audio feedback when we interact. Scrapes, bangs, clicks, clangs and clunks. But digital products and services make no sound unless we design it in. With digital now part of the fabric of daily life, and the rise of the screenless interface and IoT bringing ever deeper integration, sound design has never been more important, or omnipresent. Voice interfaces mean sound can be the only only meaningful evidence of our interactions.

Even some familiar physical objects are falling silent, as the combustion engine gives way to EVs. What sound should they make? Why? Whether to initiate or confirm an interaction, to alert, reassure, create a mood, or simply to attract customers to a coffee machine the potential is now there for a service to stand or fall on its sound design.
With the help of professional sound designers we'll address many of the key considerations before a hands on workshop where we'll consider sound for services in the near future.

UI Sound Design: The Small Sounds That Make A Big Difference

As our technology gets smarter, subtly blending into our everyday lives, good design has never been more important. Design is critical in determining how we experience a product or service, but an often overlooked and undervalued part of any design experience is sound, and specifically UI sound. From a simple keyclick to a warning notification, UI sound design has become a key factor in how we interact with modern-day technology. It's a specialist craft, that if done well, can help to inspire the overall design, improve usability and user experience, and strengthen a brand.

During Henry's talk, he'll highlight a clearly defined set of principles for successful UI sound design, whilst championing the case for bringing UI sound design deeper into the design process. He will also state a case for expanding the sound design field; specialist UX/UI sound designers commonly working as part of a wider design team.

Henry Daw

Henry (https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrydaw/) is a sound designer and audio branding consultant, based in London. After working for 13 years as an in-house sound designer, for Nokia and Microsoft, Henry set up his own company Oblique Sound (http://www.obliquesound.com/)in 2015. Whilst at Nokia and Microsoft, Henry created sounds for billions of devices worldwide, including the most recent versions of the infamous Nokia Tune and the Microsoft Lumia Default ringtone. He now works with a wide range of clients, specialising in the developing area of UX/UI sound design - highly focused sound design that forms a crucial part of user experience for the technology of today.

• more guests TBC

Refunds

You will be refunded if you come and see us at the end or if you cancel suitably in advance. This allows us to manage the numbers and demand for the event.