THE BEST SOUND POSSIBLE FOR YOUR PRODUCT: LET’S DESIGN IT TOGETHER
What is SounBe and how can it help you?
SounBe is a tool, but even a sensory design method. Developed and patented by a multidisciplinary team at the Turin Polytechnic, it supports you in designing the best sound possible for your product.
How it’s made
SounBe is contained in a briefcase: it is made of a series of tools to generate mechanical sounds, as the result of the interaction between material, shape, and motion.
How to use it
SounBe allows you to reproduce and compare different mechanical sounds and select the most suitable solutions for your products by strengthening their sound identity.
Who it’s for
SounBe supports designers, researchers, and the R&D and Marketing departments of companies in the research and development of the best-fitting sound.
A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR YOUR INDUSTRY
What companies may use SounBe?
Designing the sound of your product allows you to strengthen its identity, spark emotion, and tell a story. As we developed a new way to do this, we kept in mind the following industries – and many more – that may benefit from a well-designed sound.
Food & beverage
From the crunch of cereal to the snap of the chocolate bar, along with the best-sounding name for a food product.
Sport & wellness
From the swishing of a sleeping bag to the sound of a zipper, as well as the “voice” of personal care products.
Furniture & appliances
From the dull closing sound of a drawer to the jingling of cutlery and glasses: an auditory landscape in the making distinguishes the modern domestic environment.
Fashion & accessories
From the rustle of a silk shirt to the squeak of a rubber sole: product quality beyond what is perceivable through sight and touch.
Luxury
From a calligraphy pen to a jewel, the quality of luxury products is in the details, and silence may be a purposely designed choice.
Transportation
From the rolling wheels of a trolley along the streets of an art city, to the sound of buttons and knobs of a car dashboard.
Education
From pre-school games to interactive whiteboards: new worlds and new analogies to assist education.
Digital
From the ATM to a dryer program: the analogies with the physical and natural world may inform and reassure.
Packaging
From the squeak of paper, to candy wrapping, to the click of lipstick, packaging anticipates content use and consumption.
Is your industry missing?
Do you not recognize yourself in the sectors we have presented? Write us to understand if SounBe is what you need.
SERVICES OFFERED TO YOUR COMPANY
What kind of research can you perform with SounBe?
Of course, we will not leave you alone in such research. Our team may support your company in redesigning product sound by means of 3 different cooperation modes, adaptable to each design requirement.
“I manufacture packaging for top-quality food. They say my sealing systems sound “cheap”. What do they mean?”
Sound Profile Analysis
By involving “sound tasters” in the capacity as end users, we will perform an analysis of the current characteristics or the payoff of your product sound, even comparing it to that of your competitors.
“I make glass dishware. I would like to find a glass with a unique sound, different to that of my competitors. Is that possible? ”
Sound Collection Database
With the support of MATto (materials library of the Politecnico di Torino), we create a specific database of possible material sounds for each product, enriched by the semantic description provided by “tasters” (judges specialized in sound analysis).
“I produce organic food products. Could I convey the idea of natural ingredients with the sound of packaging?”
Sound Concept Development
In a brainstorming session with the company and the end users, we define the new sound concept to pursue, and provide meta-design indications (in terms of materials, shapes, and gestures) to achieve it.
HISTORY AND TEAM
How was the idea of SounBe born?
The sound of a product should not derive from a random choice of material and shapes, but needs to be designed: sound is a vehicle of values and messages for an appropriate “material and product experience”. SounBe was born to support the designer in this phase.
inventors AND RESEARCHERS
Claudia De Giorgi
Beatrice Lerma
ENTITIES INVOLVED
At the intersection of sciences, disciplines, and knowledge, thanks to the Polytechnic culture, not to mention the social, ethical, economic, and environmental implications.
At the crossroads of scientific research behind acoustics and music production: the fields in which most of the research for the SounBe approval has been performed.
Wherever research is performed to develop innovative and state-of-the-art materials, semi-finished goods, and surface finishes, applying sensory analysis to the over 800 archive samples.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about SounBe
The true value of designing a product sound lies in the creation of a communication channel between the manufacturer and the consumer that is still underexplored. It may strengthen the identity and perceived quality of the product.
It depends. Some companies may require all three services, others only one or two. In any case, we recommend to contact us: we shall discuss the best path for you to take together.
Yes, it has been tested (throughout its approval process) in the analysis of the rolling sound of office chairs over different surfaces, and more recently for the redesign of professional toolbox sound.
No, SounBe is currently not marketed. Nonetheless, you may “buy” turnkey consultancy services offered by the Polytechnic and that use this tool.
Of course! The tool has been certified by a PhD research study (2013-16) at the Turin Polytechnic, and has been further developed by means of Proof-of-Concept funding (2016-17) up to TRL level 9.
Contact us
If you are curious to know something more about SounBe and the possible research on product sound design, contact us at
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