Nandini Gandhi

Seeing Sound

Seeing Sound is a graphic design experiment that simulates chromesthesia—a neurological phenomenon where sound is involuntarily perceived as color. This interactive web-based visualization translates live audio input into color, shape, and motion using frequency, pitch, and volume data. Users can explore the simulation through their voice or preset audio tracks, engaging with sound as a visual, immersive experience.

“I created Seeing Sound as both a personal exploration and a public invitation. As someone with chromesthesia, I experience sound visually every day—but only recently realized this wasn’t universal. This simulation offers a glimpse into that sensory world, where honks flash pink and jazz unfurls in soft gradients. Designed with empathy and curiosity, this project uses technology and visual communication to question how we perceive reality, and how design can make the invisible visible.”