UX & Sound design

How can sound design can improve the overall User Experience?

Role - UX Designer, Sound designer

Why Use sound design in UX?

Sound can be a powerful tool for communicating information and creating emotional responses, and can enhance the usability, engagement, and memorability of a product.

Why?

Accessibility:

  • Can provide important cues for users who have visual impairment

Feedback:

  • Provide users with instant feedback on their actions

Information hierarchy:

  • Auditory Cues: Sound design employs different tones or volumes to signal information importance, aiding users in prioritizing without relying solely on visuals.

Branding:

  • Can be used to reinforce a brand's identity and create a memorable experience.

Emotional Resonance:

  • Tonal Atmosphere: Sound, such as background music or effects, sets an emotional tone, enhancing the user's connection to the experience.

Immersion:

  • Spatial Audio: Utilizing spatial audio provides a sense of dimension, enhancing immersion by aligning sound with visual elements in virtual environments or gaming applications.

What difference can sound design in UX make?

Can enhance the user experience by providing audio feedback, creating a more engaging interface, and aiding in user memorability.

Products can become more engaging, intuitive, and accessible to a wider range of users.

Lets talk Numbers!

Background research was conducted, as well as interviews and surveys, to determine the pain points, goals, challenges, and needs. Affinity maps, empathy maps, and personas were created based on key insights.

86%

Said that sound can make a digital experience more memorable.

70%

Prefer to have audio feedback for button clicks.

72%

Felt that sound enhances the overall user experience of a product.

Target users?

It's important to consider the needs and preferences of different groups of users. Users can be divided into five categories

  • General Users

  • Users With Disabilities

  • International Users

  • Business Users

  • Children

Book Nook:

An Audio UX project that shows you how I approached sound designing for a book app. As the saying goes, "sound is half the experience," and incorporating sound elements into your book app can enhance the user's experience and make it more engaging. 

Whether you're a UX designer, sound designer, app developer, or just interested in knowing more about UX & sound design, this video is for you.