Visualising the Impact of Loud Music at Festivals

This project was developed during Module 8: Hybrid Worlds of my Creative Technology bachelor’s, where I worked in a large multidisciplinary team to design and build an interactive installation. The goal was to raise awareness about hearing damage caused by loud music at festivals by translating real-world data into a physical, interactive experience.

We created a miniature festival environment where users could explore how their choices influence sound exposure. Using a DJ controller, users could select music genres and songs, each with different volume levels. On the dance floor, they could place an avatar to control their distance from the speakers, directly affecting the sound intensity experienced.

To make the impact more tangible, the experience included a physical ear model where users could insert earplugs, reducing the simulated sound levels. Visual feedback was provided through LEDs, speakers, and a screen displaying real-time data such as sound intensity and accumulated noise exposure.

At the end of the experience, users received a “Moose Wrapped” summary showing their total noise dose, favorite music genres, and practical tips to reduce hearing damage at festivals.

This project combined hardware, software, and data visualization, and gave me experience working in a large team, integrating multiple systems, and turning complex data into an engaging, interactive experience.