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Synesthetic design : handbook for a multi-sensory approach

by Michael Haverkamp

This practical handbook outlines the principles of synesthetic design, integrating research from psychology, neurology, and material science. It provides a foundation for developing products that systematically incorporate all five senses.

Accession 9783034607155 ISBN 9783034607155 Publisher Birkhauser

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spine_text: BIRKHÄUSER MICHAEL HAVERKAMP SYNESTHETIC DESIGN

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Topics and Themes

1. **Synesthesia & Cross-Modal Perception**
The book's foundation is the neurological phenomenon of synesthesia — where stimulation of one sense automatically triggers another — and how this involuntary cross-modal experience can be consciously applied to design. Haverkamp, himself a synesthete, maps subjective colour-sound and colour-form relations to explain the science behind sensory blending.

Connect to books about: synesthesia research, cross-modal perception, neuroscience of the senses, sensory psychology.

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2. **Multisensory Product Design**
The central applied argument of the book is that good design should intentionally engage all five senses, moving beyond purely visual aesthetics to create richer, more cohesive product experiences. The book functions as a practical handbook for translating this ambition into real design decisions.

Connect to books about: industrial design, product design methodology, user-centred design, design thinking.

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3. **Perception, Cognition & Gestalt Principles**
Haverkamp grounds design practice in perceptual psychology — covering how humans group stimuli, distinguish foreground from background, and form perceptual objects. Concepts such as Gestalt principles, qualia, and the subjective vs. objective nature of sensation are treated as essential design foundations.

Connect to books about: Gestalt psychology, cognitive psychology, phenomenology of perception, philosophy of mind.

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4. **Sound Design & Audiovisual Relationships**
A significant thread of the book deals with the design of sound and its relationship to visual and other sensory elements — including colour-sound correspondences, musical notation, noise visualisation, and the role of sound in product identity. Haverkamp is a recognised expert in sound design specifically.

Connect to books about: sound design, acoustic ecology, music and visual art, audiovisual media theory.

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5. **Brand Identity & Sensory Marketing**
The book addresses how multisensory design strategy intersects with product placement and brand identity, recognising that the feel, sound, smell, and appearance of a product together construct a brand's character in a consumer's mind.

Connect to books about: sensory marketing, brand strategy, consumer behaviour, experiential retail.

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6. **Human-Machine Interaction & Interface Design**
Haverkamp devotes attention to human-computer interaction and human-machine communication, exploring how multisensory principles apply to the interfaces people use to operate technology — from physical controls to digital screens.

Connect to books about: HCI (human-computer interaction), UX design, interaction design, ergonomics.

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7. **Neuroscience, Physiology & the Biology of the Senses**
The book draws heavily on medical and scientific knowledge — including psychology, physiology, motor functions, and neurology — to establish an empirical basis for design decisions. Understanding the biology of vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste is treated as a prerequisite for holistic design.

Connect to books about: cognitive neuroscience, sensory neuroscience, psychophysics, the philosophy of perception.

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8. **Holistic & Sustainable Design Futures**
The book closes by looking forward, arguing that multisensory design is not just aesthetically richer but also more robust and sustainable. It frames synesthetic design as an ethical and forward-looking discipline, integrating all senses into durable, human-centred outcomes.

Connect to books about: sustainable design, design ethics, futures studies, speculative and critical design.

Synesthetic design : handbook for a multi-sensory approach

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