TED Talks: Paul Bennett

For those in the design, technology, and entertainment industry (and really, any other field), TED Talks are a great resource for discovery. Typically around 15-25 minutes in length, these lectures feature speakers who are front runners in their field--and they are packed with great information that not only gets you thinking, but desiring to better yourself within your line of work.

Below is great TED video to leave you with on a Friday afternoon, with a talk by IDEO's creative director Paul Bennett, who discusses the importance of solving individual's needs in order to solve corporate needs--which ultimately means taking on the end-user's point of view.

Retail Sound Design

A well-designed space places importance on engaging all the senses. Upon arrival, a customer is immediately surrounded by a total environment that either actively invites the person to explore the space or unknowingly causes negative perceptions about the store. One aspect of retail design that affects us significantly (often without us even realizing) is the use of sound. The right sound can lead to increased sales, but an an inappropriate sound application can dramatically change customer well-being and purchasing. 
 

What can the right sound do?

1. reinforce store image and branding

2. encourage purchasing and a lengthened shopping time

3. attract specific attention to a product or attract a specific audience to the store

4. entertain the customers and create positive perceptions about the store

 

acoustic materials create opportunities to
enhance store branding and add interest

 

 

Carefully chosen background sound in combination with acoustic materials and a professional sound technology system will ensure a positive audial experience for customers.

 

 

 

 

The following video outlines the ways that sound affects us and
a few ways to consciously provide pleasing sound in a space.
 

 

 
The four Golden Rules
for commercial sound:

1. make it congruent

2. make it appropriate
3.  make it valuable

4. test and test again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
by Jonica Klein