The Future Sound of Design

As Bell says “knowledge of the past is one source of learning something about the possibilities for the future, but it must be creatively transformed if it is to be useful” (Bell W. 1996). In this context, we consider what in the past represented the future of visual communication and that marked the beginning of a new way to see reality: the cubist revolution. This teaching can be used for the future of product design and for its related user experience. In particular, the product experience should consider a multi-sensory involvement of the user, without giving only to the visual perception the unavoidable priority to communicate. If the role of the designer should carefully consider the perceptive and emotional aspects of a product, nowadays some sensory aspects that can change the future product experience are still considered irrelevant. For instance, daily life sounds are not usually designed, even if they can change the perception of a space and of a product, they can identify an object, a brand, a process and its proper functioning. The aim of this article is to focus on the importance of the sound aspect for a correct anticipation of the user experience. Specific methodologies and innovative tools can be used to improve or change product aspects and contribute to define its whole perceived quality, for a more conscious future design.