Designing Sounds Means Designing Relationships

Abstract

In this article we propose the perspective of relationship as a conceptual approach to the discipline of sound design. Based on literature reviews and case studies, we state that making sound design means designing relationships, even before sounds, and we propose to include this expression in the current definitions of the sound design discipline. Moreover, we observe that sound design practices can be inscribed in more than one relational perspective, thus widening the scope of sound design possibilities. This multi-perspective view of sound as the barycentre of a relationship system becomes a useful analysis and design tool: it allows sound designers to investigate the complex problems of contemporary projects, aiming toward fruitful and unexpected design directions.