Design for Multi-Sensory: How Can Visual Design Help Communicate Human Sense

Abstract

This critical report explores the application of multi-sensory theory within visual design practice, situated within the context of the independent research project Multi-sensory Narratives of Urban Sound: From Perception to Archive. The study begins by outlining foundational theories of multi-sensory integration and synaesthesia, which reveal the human capacity to receive and process sensory input in overlapping, interconnected ways. Through five selected design case studies, the report examines how visual design can serve as a bridge between senses, especially in projects that aim to translate auditory, tactile, or gustatory information into visual language.The paper then presents two self-directed projects, I Can Hear, In My Dream and Qiu Jiahui collected very loud noises in London made the Album it’s an Archive, in which the author explores the potential of visual design to communicate sound, evoke emotion, and raise awareness about urban noise. These projects use moving image, immersive installation, sound archives, and print publication formats to engage audiences through sight and hearing simultaneously. By critically reflecting on both theoretical knowledge and practical application, the report considers how visual design can activate empathy, memory, and bodily perception, ultimately enriching human experience through cross-sensory communication.

Keywords: multi-sensory design, visual communication, sound visualisation, human-centred design, urban soundscape

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006999