If you're designing experiences for head-mounted devices (HMD) like Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's 'Quest' products, you need to prioritize designing a great sonic experience to succeed, and I can help you!

Apple's AR invitation was undoubtedly viewed on mobile devices, where a colorful, iconic Apple logo is placed by the user into their space and begins to animate. FKJ's song "Let's Live" emits from the logo in spatial audio, adding depth to this branded Apple AR invitation.

With mobile device AR, the sonic outcomes for consumption are less certain as people might have their phone's volume turned down. If sound is on, they might be using device speakers or wired or Bluetooth headphones. In a spatial audio best-case scenario on mobile, people use headphones like AirPod Pros and can hear AR effect spatial audio, instantly realizing where the sound is coming from when the virtual object is both in and out of view.

In contrast to mobile devices, Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest HMDs provide stereo playback locked to our ears, resulting in immersive spatial audio just by putting the headset on. This consistent and predictable sonic outcome is something people value and expect with HMDs. Brands that make the most of spatial sound design for their experiences will strengthen sentiment around brand modernity, immersion, and likelihood to purchase, as we found from a years-long Meta research partnership with Oxford, Perrier, Pringles, and KitKat.

In this short but informative video linked below, Apple Sound Designer Danielle Price encourages us to push the sonic limits by spotlighting best practices for spatial and branded UX sound design. This includes making use of randomization, being intentional with spatial placement and volume management, considering repetitive tolerance, and creating subtle yet immersive background ambiences.

If you're exploring, building, and/or designing experiences for HMD and mobile devices, including those by Apple and Meta, and you're not sure how sound, music, and voice can enhance your experience, or if you're looking for compelling design let's chat about your goals and sonic instincts, and develop a plan to elevate your product experience using the power of immersive sound design. 🏆 🎧