Design of sensory experiences using sound symbolism: A study on rotary switch operation

Abstract

Consumers value products that provide a multi-sensory experience. This paper provides a summary of our recent work on the design of sensory experiences using the sound symbolism of onomatopoeia with a focus on the operation of rotary switches. The experiments were conducted to collect onomatopoeic expressions that reflect tactile and auditory experiences during switch operation. A quantitative text analysis was conducted to examine the correspondence between these expressions and physical quantities. In the representation of mono-sensory experiences through onomatopoeic expressions, our findings reveal a distinct sound symbolism in onomatopoeic expressions that reflects changes in physical quantities such as click torque for tactile sensations and sound loudness and sharpness for auditory sensations. For tactile and auditory multi-sensory experiences, the onomatopoeic expressions incorporate features of both sensations. Moreover, the results suggest that when tactile and auditory stimuli are combined, the sharpness of the operating sound has the most influence on onomatopoeic expressions. These insights suggest the potential of using the sound symbolism of onomatopoeia for quantitatively designing sensory experiences. This approach could be used to capture consumer intent and incorporate qualitative experiences into product design.