Dr. Michael Haverkamp

I work as a consultant, lecturer and author on cross-sensory design and acoustics. Until 2018, my main challenge was to developed methods for multisensory harmonization and product design at the Ford Development Centre, Cologne, Germany. Furthermore, I am applying multi-sensory principles for creation of visual arts and music. Born August 8, 1958, in Gütersloh, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, I first focused on technical and psychological acoustics during my studies of electrical engineering at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Prof. Jens Blauert). My PhD thesis addressed the physiological influences and perceptions of vibration at the University of Mainz, Institute of Occupational Health, Human Vibration Laboratory Bad Kreuznach – Prof. Heinrich Dupuis in cooperation with Prof. Herbert Schnauber).

Already in 2001, I started to introduce synesthetic and multisensory concepts into the assessment of perceptions of sound and music. Since then, I continued to develop concepts to incorporate the interplay of the senses into auditory analysis and into general design approaches. I thus had the opportunity to gain long-term experience in product development, acoustics engineering, principal studies of cross-modal perception, design, arts, and music. Multisensory design and harmonization of perceivable product features included multifaceted detail work effects of tactile features of surfaces, perceived surface temperature, touch sounds, functional sound design, coding of aspects of movement, sensory translation between the modalities, smell, maximization of perceived quality, and various others. I paid special attention to the differences between multisensory perception and sensations within a single sensory modality.

My activities included teaching assignments and invitations to lectures at various universities, e.g., the Köln International School of Design KISD, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten/Austria, and many others. Talks and seminars covered a wide range of product and interaction design, multisensory perceived quality, sound design, UX, VR, games design, typography, and multi-media arts. Since 2020, I expanded my scope of work to include studies on musical acoustics and the perception of timbre, with a focus on historical woodwind instruments.

I have numerous publications on sound engineering, perception, audio branding, multi-sensory design, the arts, and synesthesia. Many presentations were held in various European countries such as Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Russia, as well as in Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and North America. I have been a member of the jury for the International Sound Awards. I have displayed my artworks related to music and sound in Spain, UK, Russia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Furthermore, I am involved in projects of improvised and Baroque music by playing saxophone and various flutes