▸ Sonic UX Research Lab · ● Now recording

In the mix.

University research provides a rigorous testbed for understanding how sound, interaction, and human perception really work. Using controlled studies and validated methods, I develop and refine ways of measuring experience, emotion, and behaviour — so we know what actually influences users, not just what looks good on paper.

That same evidence-based approach is applied directly in my consulting. The methods used with product teams are adapted from research that has already been tested and validated, allowing organizations to make confident, science-backed decisions about sound, interaction, and emerging technologies while reducing design risk.

00:00 SPECULATIVE FUTURES01:45 PLAYFUL INTERACTIONS03:20 EVALUATION METHODS04:50 TAKE PART
SESSION 2026

Current research projects

Recording
PRJ-01⚡ Speculative design

Speculative Sonic Futures

This work is based in the Sonic Futures Lab at Carleton University. We speculate with designers and users to explore how sound could shape the next generation of digital experiences, using hands-on workshops and rapid prototyping to imagine new ways audio, AI, and interaction might work together. Through experimental concepts we help organizations surface new opportunities, challenge assumptions, and understand how people might respond to future sound-driven interfaces before they are built.

📄 "Make it So(und): Speculative Sonic Metaphors as Boundary Objects for Design Research." Design Research Society 2026 read the paper →
Visit the Sonic Futures Lab →
PRJ-02▸ Play & engagement

Playful Sonic Interactions

This project explores how sound can become a primary way people interact with products by using playful, game-like prototypes to test engagement, learning, and emotional response. We design and evaluate experimental micro-experiences where voice, audio feedback, and sound-based mechanics drive interaction, allowing teams to see how sonic elements can influence enjoyment and user behaviour.

The work runs in three strands: the EARS prompt deck and the artefacts it has produced, generative pieces that compose themselves inside rules, and sound-based games where listening is the mechanic. For example, what would a house sound like if every device were designed to sound as a suite? Try the House Choir, or the Sonic Colony prototype.

Explore Playful Sonic Interactions → Deal a round of EARS → Play Sonic Colony → Play House Choir →
PRJ-03◉ Measurement

Sonic UX Evaluation Methods

We are developing and validating practical tools for measuring how sound affects user experience, combining behavioural data, rating scales, and qualitative feedback to create a more reliable way to evaluate design. By testing multiple prototypes across different methods, we help organizations understand what really works, where existing UX metrics fall short for audio, and how to make confident, data-backed decisions about sound in their products.

Browse the Methods toolkit →

🎧 Take part in a study

Interested in seeing research in progress — or taking part in a current research study? I'm creating the tools and research you need.

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About SoundDr.

Dr. KC Collins received a PhD in music from the University of Liverpool. She now lives in Ottawa, Canada, where she is a researcher and professor at Carleton University and runs the Sonic UX Research Lab with her grad students. Previously she was Canada Research Chair in Interactive Audio at the University of Waterloo (2007–2017) and a member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars. She has won multiple awards for her work in sound research and published ten books on sound and music.

LinkedIn · info@sounddr.ca

Services

  • Sonic UX Research
  • Product Sound Evaluation
  • Sonic Branding Insights
  • Strategy and Research Translation
  • Collaboration with design & audio teams