Principles
Sound communicates helpful feedback in ways that express a product’s personality and aesthetic.
Informative
Sound should be intuitive, functional, and understandable.
Honest
Sound should be an authentic representation of the product’s brand identity and aesthetic.
Reassuring
Sound should create a sense of comfort and security – only calling for action when needed.
Types of sound
The sounds in a UI should work like a well-coordinated orchestra, both with each other and within the surrounding interface.
Three types of sound occur in a UI: sound design, music, and voice. Each type communicates information and brand identity in different ways. Different types of sound can be used to create a particular effect, and multiple sounds can exist separately or together in the same UI.
While music and voice are part of a product’s soundscape, these guidelines focus on UX sound.