Sound Design
Sound design is a relatively recent field of design, based on an approach that considers the sound component from the conception phase of an object in order to make an intention heard; or, to put it another way and to quote Louis Dandrel, a discipline that mainly consists of designing with sound. For over 20 years, the Sound Perception and Design team at IRCAM's STMS laboratory has been formalising concepts, methods, and tools for sound design through fundamental and applied research projects.
The aim of the course is to pass on the knowledge acquired in this field, by combining subject-specific presentations with periods of learning how to use some of the tools that the team has helped to create and develop. This is carried out in context that will enable the analytical, creative, and perceptive stages of a sound design project to be understood and tackled.
Objectives
In today's predominantly visual world, sound is seldom appreciated, yet it provides an effective means of standing out from the crowd and creating a strong connection with users, offering a powerful sensory and emotional experience.
By the end of the course, participants will have acquired knowledge of the field of sound design and its areas of application, as well as a structured approach to sound design proposed by IRCAM's Sound Design and Perception team.
Participants will be able to implement a structured approach starting with the semantic analysis of a sound identity and ending with the creation of new sound objects and uses associated with it; they will be familiar with the different phases of this methodological approach:
- drawing up specifications for the sound characteristics associated with a target
- prototyping phase based on the notion of sound sketch
- perceptual evaluation phase to test the coherence of the sounds produced
Participants will have acquired a basic understanding and handling of the SpeaK method and the SkataRT tool.
Public
The course is aimed at people required to use sound design as part of professional projects within their company or institution - for example, project managers, designers, engineers, etc. Students in the sound or design professions may also be interested in the subject of the course.
Prerequisites
- Fluency in spoken English (B2 level required).
- Computer literate and able to use the main features of a Macintosh computer.
- Ability to listen, analyse, work in groups, and formulate ideas. Interest in collective creative practices.
Training Period and Organization
24 hours of training. Monday—Thursday, June 2—5, 2025. 10am-1pm & 2:30pm-5:30pm
10 students maximum
In the event that IRCAM cannot physically welcome students for a program that requires face-to-face instruction, the program will be cancelled.
Programme de la formation
The proposed work consists of designing new objects, uses or sound metaphors associated with the identity of a target represented by values, a sound universe, or associated with another sensory dimension (smell, taste, etc.).
The course will be structured in several steps:
- Analysis of the sound components of a brand or institution based on the SpeaK method, a collective analysis methodology involving listening, free expression and association of specific words to describe the perceived characteristics of the sounds.
- Sound design of objects or uses based, on the one hand, on a methodology for producing sound sketches using voice and gesture for ideation, and on the other hand, using the SkataRT tool as a means of sound prototyping.
- Evaluation of the proposals based on functional criteria and consistency with the brand's values.
This project will be applied within a methodological framework calling on basic knowledge (acoustics, psychoacoustics, signal processing) which will also be covered during the course.
Monday
| Morning | Welcome. Introduction to sound design, its uses and applications. Reflections on sound design methodology: why create sound? |
| Afternoon | How can we describe sounds? First steps with the SpeaK methodology (words for sound) combined with listening exercises. |
Tuesday
| Morning | Practice with the SpeaK methodology. Project - part 1: group analysis of the sound identity of a specific target. |
| Afternoon | How can we make sounds? First steps with the SkataRT methodology (sound sketches) combined with creation exercises. |
Wednesday
| Morning | Project - part 2: creating prototypes for sound uses (groups of 2-3 people). |
| Afternoon | Project - part 2: creation/completion of sound objects and uses/edition. |
Thursday
| Morning | Project - part 2: group listening and ensuring consistency among different proposals. Project - part 3: perceptive evaluation. |
| Afternoon | Discussion, evaluation, conclusion: analysis of the results and presentation of a real case. Conclusion and assessment of the course. |
Educational and Technical Resources
- Training room equipped with iMac computers and appropriate software, headphones, and MIDI keyboards.
- Training format: lectures, case studies, and practical work. The course will be illustrated by numerous examples and case studies.
- Teaching aids: video-projected presentations and pdf documents.
Software (SpeaK free download, SkataRT available as part of the IRCAM Forum Premium subscription) is not included in the course fee and will not be provided at the end of the course.
Supervision
- Participants’ welcome the first day at 9 :45AM.
- Attendance controlled; signature of an attendance sheet required every afternoon.
- Delivery of a certificate of achievement
Assement
- Assement of knowledge throughout the course through participants’ creative projects.