What’s that sound? is an audio-reactive poster campaign that promotes Bristol’s sonic identity and draws attention to noise pollution. The project explores creative coding as a way to push the boundaries of traditional poster design.

The imaginative campaign consists of posters in different screen formats, all built using javascript, which are responding to live audio input. Through this interactive approach, soundscapes become the driving factor of the design. Thus, the very essence of the concept emerges visually. A website, which can be accessed by scanning the integrated QR code on the posters, provides further background information.

Sound is a fundamental part of our cities. It contributes to the vibrancy and urban identity of a place, as well as the health and wellbeing of its citizen. Unfortunately, sound is often overlooked or simply overshadowed by noise. Soundscapes need to get more attention, in order to tackle the problem of urban noise pollution. Only the appreciation of the acoustic environment can give us the resources to improve the orchestration of urban soundscapes.