Projects

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 and data-driven decisions about sound, interaction, and emerging technologies while reducing design risk.

Current Research Projects

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Speculative Sonic Futures

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.

Publications:

"Make it So(und): Speculative Sonic Metaphors as Boundary Objects for Design Research. " Design Research Society 2026
coming soon.  

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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.

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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.

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. Prior to that, she was Canada Research Chair in Interactive Audio at the University of Waterloo from 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. 

Let's Sync!

Services

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

Contact

Dr. KC Collins,

School of Information Technology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S5B6