Research question
How can sounds influence our perception of a space?
Can sounds have a calming effect when listened to?
What do these sounds represent?
Experiment
Drawing to visualise the perception of the sounds. To explore this question, 5 people are requested to listen to 4 different sounds. While hearing the sounds, they are asked to draw the feeling they get from the sound. Secondly, they listen to it again and draw the context they hear. Through this methodology, the perception of the sound is visualised by the contestants as well as the context. To eliminate my bias, I asked the contestants to describe their drawings in a few words. Combining the drawings and words, an analysis of the data was formed.
Findings
Based on the drawings and describing words, the sounds of birds were perceived as the most calming or relaxing. The sounds of a busy cafe were perceived as the most stressful.
Cafe sounds
Sound 3
City traffic noise and cars on wet streets, Through open window take 3
Sound 4
