About Design and Sonic Practice

Sonic practices can be found across art, design, engineering, health, music, digital media, life and earth sciences. Sound based research and teaching into these disciplines ranges from composition and design to theory, programming, scientific and medical research, public concerts and installations. The focus is on listening, auditory experience and the acoustic world.

The Design and Sonic Practice group are primarily engaged in creative practice research in 4 key areas:

Advanced sound practices. Creation, curation, performance, sound design, soundtrack in museums and galleries, arts and Digital Media, theatre, dance and concerts.

Health and wellbeing for aged care, auditory health, dementia, stress-relief, driver drowsiness

Urban liveability including public art, environmental design, soundscape design,

Acoustic design for interior acoustics, design education.

The group combine teaching and research into all their activities, creating opportunities to learn through creative experimentation and experience. Academic staff work with undergraduates, Masters by coursework, research masters and PhD candidates. This involves balancing technical expertise and theoretical enquiry with creative practice. The common thread is sound and listening.

While members are based in programs across the School and University, the DSP research group functions as a base for high-level academic exchange. From here, members closely collaborate with colleagues in design, art, engineering, and health to ensure multi-sensory approaches are expertly produced for sound and listening.

The DSP cooperatively directs key University resources for sonic practice, including multi-channel sound studios, production faculties for art and design projects, acoustic modelling, sonification, vibration research, a speaker orchestra for public performance and the RMIT Sonic Arts Collections.