The training 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, innovation managers and user experience (UX) designers as well as students preparing for careers in sound, design or innovation.

• 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

In the event that IRCAM cannot physically welcome students for a program that requires face-to-face instruction, the program and the certification test will be cancelled.

Some details of the training program are subject to revision as the software on which it is based evolves.

The proposed assignment consists of designing within the framework of a fictional scenario, new services that incorporate a sound component reflecting the identity of a defined target audience or brand.

This identity may be shaped, in conjunction with visual identity elements, through a set of values, a specific sonic universe or other sensory dimensions such as smell or taste.

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.

• Welcome the first day of training beginning at 9:45 am.
• Attendance is monitored through the signing of an attendance sheet at each half-day session.
• Participants receive a certificate of completion including their assessment results.

• Assement of knowledge throughout the course through participants’ creative projects

• Training room equipped with Mac Mini 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

Access to software during and after the training course

The SpeaK and SkataRT software applications are made available on the computers in the training room and are used during the sessions. No licence is included upon completion of the training.

SpeaK is available free of charge, while SkataRT is accessible through the Premium subscription to the Forum Ircam.

Participants who wish to continue using these tools after the training will need to obtain their own licence or subscription.

Premium members of the IRCAM Forum benefit from a 30% discount on all training courses. Participants who have completed this training course and do not hold an IRCAM Forum membership may benefit from a 30% discount on a Premium subscription, valid for one month.

During the June 2025 session of sound design training course, all 7 participants achieved the stated learning objectives. In addition, the satisfaction survey completed by all participants indicated an overall satisfaction rate of 100%.