Diploma in Sound UI: Auditory Feedback and Multimodal Experience
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Sound UI: Auditory Feedback and Multimodal Experience. 8 modules covering sound in the user interface, in-cabin auditory feedback, voice interfaces, multimodal experience, spatial audio, sound experience evaluation and regulations with ISO 15006, ISO 15005 and the European Statement of Principles on HMI, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Sound UI: Auditory Feedback and Multimodal Experience — studying from South Africa
Product design and human-machine interface work is increasingly important across South African manufacturing, consumer goods and software. Industrial design teams in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal work on products for local and export markets, from appliances to automotive interiors. Digital product and interface design is in demand as companies build more connected products. Designers often collaborate with engineers, ergonomics specialists and quality teams throughout the development process.
Fees for South Africa: R 24 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Do South African professional bodies recognise qualifications in HMI and product design?
In South Africa, design professions are overseen by bodies such as the South African Council for the Architectural Profession for architecture and the South African Institute of Interior Designers for interior work, while product and UX design is largely unregulated. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Employers and clients decide how much weight to give them.
Will this programme help me get work in product or HMI design in South Africa?
South Africa's technology, automotive, consumer goods and software firms hire designers, usually assessing portfolios, practical skills and experience. A private online qualification can add to your credentials and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee a role. Build a strong portfolio and ask target employers how they view the qualification.
How much time does it take, and can I pay in instalments?
The programme is delivered entirely online and in English, so you need good English for coursework and communication with your tutor. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so choose a level that suits your schedule. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible if your employer supports professional development.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Design earcons and auditory icons with consistent semantics.
Define auditory feedback for controls, displays and vehicle states.
Design voice interactions that are robust in noisy environments.
Integrate sound, visuals and haptics into multimodal experiences.
Apply spatial audio and sound zone technologies.
Evaluate the sound experience with users.
Write sound style guides that comply with the regulations.
Who it's for
- Interface sound designers
- Voice interaction designers
- In-vehicle audio engineers
- Multimodal HMI designers
- Auditory UX researchers
- Human factors engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive sector
What you'll work with
- ISO 15006:2011 (specifications for in-vehicle auditory presentation)
- ISO 15005:2017 (dialogue management)
- Recommendation 2008/653/EC (European Statement of Principles on HMI)
- ISO 9241-110:2020 (interaction principles)
- ISO 532-1:2017 (loudness calculation)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation)
- EN 301 549 (accessibility requirements for ICT products and services)
- Audiokinetic Wwise
- Ableton Live
- Max/MSP
- ProtoPie
- HEAD ArtemiS SUITE
8 modules
1.1Functions of sound in the interface1.2Earcons and auditory icons1.3Data sonification1.4Confirmation and error feedback1.5Sound and perceived quality1.6Principles of interface sound design1.7Sound consistency and semantics1.8Accessibility and sound1.9Benchmarks in consumer electronics1.10Workshop: sound inventory of an infotainment system
2.1Sounds for controls and touchscreens2.2Indicator and warning sounds2.3Feedback for voice interaction2.4Vehicle status sounds2.5Charging sounds in electric vehicles2.6Volume and adaptation to noise2.7Spatialisation and position2.8Sound priority and mixing2.9User personalisation2.10Practical exercise: family of confirmation sounds
3.1Architecture of voice assistants3.2Speech recognition in noise3.3Principles of conversational design3.4Speech synthesis and prosody3.5Handling recognition errors3.6Proactivity and turn-taking3.7Voice and distraction3.8Assistants based on language models3.9Voice privacy3.10Lab: conversational flow for climate control
4.1Multiple resource theory4.2Redundancy between channels4.3Integration of audio, visual and haptic channels4.4Temporal synchronisation between modalities4.5Multimodal semantic consistency4.6Context-based modality selection4.7Sensory overload and its prevention4.8Modalities for automated driving4.9Multimodal evaluation methods4.10Case study: multimodal interaction for a mode change
5.1In-cabin loudspeaker systems5.2Individual sound zones5.33D audio and HRTF5.4Headrest loudspeakers5.5Digital signal processing5.6Audio middleware5.7Integration with the vehicle operating system5.8Latency and performance5.9In-vehicle calibration5.10Workshop: driver sound zone with headrest loudspeakers
6.1Listening tests of interface sounds6.2Metrics of pleasantness and comprehension6.3Simulator studies6.4Measuring distraction with sound6.5Standardised UX questionnaires6.6Tests in a real vehicle6.7Comparison with benchmarks6.8Statistical analysis of ratings6.9Design iteration6.10Practical exercise: earcon comprehension test
7.1Acoustic signals under ISO 150067.2European Statement of Principles on HMI7.3Dialogue management under ISO 150057.4Accessibility for people with disabilities7.5Sound exposure levels7.6Protection of voice data7.7Sound style guides7.8Documentation for development7.9Maintenance of the sound system7.10Case study: sound style guide for a cockpit
8.1Analysis of the current system8.2Sound experience concept8.3Design of interface sounds8.4Design of voice interaction8.5Multimodal integration of the concept8.6Evaluation with users8.7Implementation guide8.8Sound comprehension tests8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Audiokinetic Wwise, Ableton Live, Max/MSP, ProtoPie and HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures: designing families of interface sounds, conversational flows for voice assistants, and multimodal evaluation in a simulator. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 15006:2011, ISO 15005:2017, Recommendation 2008/653/EC, ISO 9241-110:2020, ISO 532-1:2017, Regulation (EU) 2016/679, EN 301 549.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Audiokinetic Wwise, Ableton Live, Max/MSP, ProtoPie and HEAD ArtemiS SUITE, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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