Sound design at Volvo Cars

As my Master Thesis I worked at the UX department for Sound at Volvo Cars, specifically with the automated driving systems Pilot Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control. A Volvo Car has over 50 sounds and a vast majority of them being different versions of beeping sounds. The idea was to enhance the user experience for the driver by broadening the sonic environment. To use a broader set of auditory feedback would help the driver as the intake of visual feedback when driving is limited because you have to be vigilant of your surroundings. During this time me and my thesis partner Viktor did multiple tests and learned to adapt our design methods to sound design which we had never done before. Among others stuff we experimented with design methodology in nudging and increasing the ambient sound that already exists in the car.

The research led to 6 design guidelines that should be followed in order to create a wider sound spectrum but still generate needed feedback. The research and final design was called “’Make-no-sound’-sounds” and was very appreciated by the company.