Abstract
Today, the growing demand for sound in shaping multisensory museum experiences requires exhibition designers to acquire relevant sound knowledge. However, designers often find it difficult to identify applicable insights across the vast and interdisciplinary fields of acoustics and sound studies. Thus, this paper conducts twelve semi-structured interviews with experts in acoustics and sound-related disciplines. The findings establish a basic sound knowledge framework comprising four thematic areas with related concepts: fundamentals of acoustics, sound and space, sound and audience experience, and sound control and technology. In addition, the paper explores interdisciplinary communication and collaboration in sound design practices within exhibition productions. These discussions reveal the underexplored potential of sound in museums and underscore the importance of fostering sound sensitivity and collaborative methods in design education, in order to support designers in creating more experimental sonic experiences in museums.
Keywords
Sound design, exhibition design, acoustics, design education
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1943
Citation
Zhang, Y. (2026) How Sound Knowledge and Education Can Support Designers in Creating Museum Experiences: Insights from Semi-Structured Interviews with Experts in Acoustics/Sound, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1943
Creative Commons License
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Included in
How Sound Knowledge and Education Can Support Designers in Creating Museum Experiences: Insights from Semi-Structured Interviews with Experts in Acoustics/Sound
Today, the growing demand for sound in shaping multisensory museum experiences requires exhibition designers to acquire relevant sound knowledge. However, designers often find it difficult to identify applicable insights across the vast and interdisciplinary fields of acoustics and sound studies. Thus, this paper conducts twelve semi-structured interviews with experts in acoustics and sound-related disciplines. The findings establish a basic sound knowledge framework comprising four thematic areas with related concepts: fundamentals of acoustics, sound and space, sound and audience experience, and sound control and technology. In addition, the paper explores interdisciplinary communication and collaboration in sound design practices within exhibition productions. These discussions reveal the underexplored potential of sound in museums and underscore the importance of fostering sound sensitivity and collaborative methods in design education, in order to support designers in creating more experimental sonic experiences in museums.