SPEECH, SOUND, AND SHAPE
PUBLICATION
Speech,
Sound, and Shape is an unfoldable publication inspired by the 1929 ‘Kiki/Bouba’ experiment. The
experiment found a correlation between the sound of speech and the visual
elements it creates. This idea goes hand in hand with phonaesthetics and sound
synesthesia, which are also explored here.
*Psssssss…. ‘Kiki’ sounds sharp, and ‘Bouba’ sounds round — what do you think?
/ 4’x6’
unfoldable publication and sleeve
/ physical experience design
/ manipulated type
/ social and out-of-home advertising
/ physical experience design
/ manipulated type
/ social and out-of-home advertising
Positioning & Voice
The publication is interactive and urges the user to dive into research findings in an easily digestible way. This particular psychology — that of sound and the visuals it makes — is fun for everyone, and creates a dialogue about our brain’s abilities. Heck, it even turns into a poster!
For those interested in psychology, music, speech pathology, synesthesia, and its intersection between art and design.
Visual Identity
Kiki and Bouba were the easy part, as those shapes have been studied in experiments for years. All of the shapes used are common synesthetic shapes, and the bright colors are commonly seen between synesthetic people when listening to music, or hearing certain words.
The primary typeface, especially in headings, is manipulated to mimic the way we would say those words — an elongated “u” in “music”, or a fall off in pitch in “speech”, for example.
The primary typeface, especially in headings, is manipulated to mimic the way we would say those words — an elongated “u” in “music”, or a fall off in pitch in “speech”, for example.
Voice Words
/ abstract / digestible / loud
/ abstract / digestible / loud
