An ethereal immersion into the power and interconnectedness of our senses
Milan Design Week 2024: Google and Chromasonic Transform Light Into Sound for “Making Sense of Color” Exhibition
An ethereal immersion into the power and interconnectedness of our senses
Unless you’ve been following Salone del Mobile for the last few years, Google might not be the first organization to come to mind when you hear the words Milan Design Week. And yet, for attendees, years after year, the tech pioneer has continued to explore the world of design through our interconnected senses—and our abundance of feelings—with exhibitions like “A Space for Being” with Suchi Reddy and “Shaped by Water” with Lachlan Turczan. This year, at Garage 21 from 15-21 April, Google’s Vice President of Hardware Design, Ivy Ross, will present “Making Sense of Color” in collaboration with arts and research lab Chromasonic. The immersive installation, which translates light into sound is as spectacular as it is serene.
In “Making Sense of Color,” translucent scrims form three rows of seven partially enclosed spaces. All 21 of these nodes are enhanced with a dedicated color-shifting light source and enveloping spatialized audio. With Chromasonic’s “refrequencing” technology, the frequencies emanating from a soothing lightscape are translated into sound while guests pass from space to space, engaging with others or finding their own peace in the waves of color.
We create a condition where you can see sound or hear light
Johannes Girardoni
“At a really fundamental level, we connect light frequencies and sound frequencies,” multimedia artist Johannes Girardoni, Chromasonic’s cofounder, explains to COOL HUNTING on site. “We map light waves to sound waves to help us all expand our perception. We use technology to do that. We create a condition where you can see sound or hear light because we are aligning all the frequencies and waves algorithmically.” In person, an immediate calm descends as one steps into the experiential space.
In addition to being a sensory immersion, it’s also a tale of human connection—with pleasant encounters shared in the space. “It’s a use of technology that allows us to move our presence into ourselves, to move into the presence of others, and to connect through community,” Girardoni continues. “The physical spatial expression of this installation creates an elasticization of space through the movement of light and sound so space may appear to expand and contract. When you’re in the space with other participants, they may appear or disappear. You notice yourself. You notice others.”
Ross explains that Chromasonic’s work at the intersection of art and science is what appealed to Google. “They embrace both physical and virtual sensory technologies to create visceral experiences that really resonate with us and relate to how we approach design,” she tells us. “In the case of ‘Making Sense of Color,’ their portion of the exhibit embodies the answer to the question, ‘what does color sound like?'”
Color gives life a pulse
Ivy Ross
“At the Google Hardware Design Studio we are always considering the sensorial nature of what we design, color being an important aspect,” Ross says. “Each color transmits a different vibration. That vibration has a biological and psychological effect on us. Color gives life a pulse. Color resonates with vibrancy, embodying energy, evoking emotion. Right now we are going through a lot of emotion as a society so understanding the power of color and its different properties feels relevant.”
As for the importance of Milan Design Week, Ross adds that, “we believe that Salone is the best showcase for design, attracting folks from all over the world. It is the best place to share with the world the thought leadership of the Google Hardware Design group. Our ‘Making Sense of Color’ experience culminates in a feast for the eyes that shows how color comes to life through the design of Google’s hardware portfolio that will be on display.” For those in Milan for Salone del Mobile, it’s a can’t miss—and for those who are mesmerized from afar, the Chromasonic portion of the installation will travel to other destinations in the future.