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 multi-sensory 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 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 multisensory aspects into auditory analysis and into general design approaches. I thus had the opportunity to gain long-term experience in product development, acoustics engineering and multi-sensory design, and principal studies of cross-modal perception, design, the arts and music.

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. Current studies include arts, multi-sensory design and musical acoustics. 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 Flutes.