Connor Moore on Sound Design for Tesla, Uber, Peloton and More

Sound often goes unnoticed, but it plays a powerful role in shaping how we interact with technology. The familiar chorus that plays when you start your Mac, the double knock of a Slack notification, or the ascending notes of AirPods connecting to a device all serve as cues that guide and inform us. Without sound in our design toolbox, these interactions would feel incomplete and far less intuitive.

On the Design Better podcast, Connor Moore joined the hosts to discuss how sound defines user experience and why it is central to building memorable brands.

The Role of Sound in Interaction Design

Sound design is more than just an accessory to visuals. It provides context, feedback, and emotion in a way that visuals cannot always achieve. A short tone can confirm an action, alert us to a change, or establish a brand identity. These subtle details add up to create a seamless interaction between people and the products they use every day.

Shaping Brands Through Sound

In his career, Connor has partnered with brands like Tesla, Uber, Peloton, and YouTube, helping them design sound experiences that reinforce their brand identity and enhance usability. Whether it is the startup sound of a product, the feedback tone of a system, or the immersive audio that guides a workout, sound helps build trust and recognition.

By working at the intersection of creativity and technology, Connor shows how every note, chime, and tone can become a brand asset.

Inside the Creative Process

In the episode, Connor shares how he built a career in sound design, the tools he uses to craft distinct audio identities, and the principles that guide his work. His approach balances technical expertise with storytelling, ensuring that every sound feels intentional and aligned with the brand it represents.

Get an inside look at how sound can transform a functional interaction into an emotional connection.

Listen to the Full Conversation

The full conversation is available now on Spotify, and it offers insights not just for designers, but for anyone interested in the future of brand experience. Connor explains how sound has become a defining element for global brands and why companies of all sizes should be thinking about their audio identity. Ready to discover how sound can transform a functional interaction into an emotional connection? Let’s talk.

Listen to the episode on Spotify

As brands embrace sonic branding and sound design for their products, is the world becoming louder?

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As brands embrace sonic branding and sound design for their products, is the world becoming louder?

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Unlocking the World of Audio UX with Connor Moore

What makes an app feel effortless, while another leaves you frustrated by endless pings and alerts? The answer often comes down to audio user experience. In a recent podcast feature, Connor Moore breaks down the role of sound in shaping the way we interact with technology and why thoughtful design matters more than ever.

A Career in Sound and Design

Connor Moore has spent more than 15 years shaping the future of audio UX and audio branding. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with forward-thinking brands like Google, Lucid Motors, Ford, Peloton, Uber, Airbnb, and State Farm. His projects span industries, but they share a common goal: using sound to improve functionality while building deep brand affinity.

Connor founded CMoore Sound at a time when few companies considered audio as part of their core identity systems. His early work focused on branded audio user experiences for products, apps, and digital platforms, often in the emerging technology space. Today, he is the Executive Creative Director at Listen, an audio branding company based in New York, where he leads a creative team developing sound logos, experiential audio, branded music, and sonic ecosystems for global brands.

Why Audio UX Matters

In the episode, Connor explains that audio UX is not about adding decoration to a product. It is about shaping interactions, reducing friction, and building trust. From the reassuring tone that confirms a successful action to the subtle cues that guide navigation, sound helps technology feel more intuitive and enjoyable.

When done poorly, sound becomes distracting or confusing. When done well, it becomes almost invisible, seamlessly supporting the experience. This is what sets apart apps that feel natural from those that leave users overwhelmed.

Inside the Design Process

Connor also shares the principles that guide his work in audio UX:

• Clarity: Every sound should serve a purpose and be instantly recognizable.
• Accessibility: Audio must support diverse users, including those with visual impairments or different cultural contexts.
• Adaptability: Sound needs to work across platforms, from mobile apps to voice assistants to VR environments.

These principles ensure that sound enhances usability rather than creating barriers.

Looking Ahead: Trends and Challenges

The conversation also explores where audio UX is headed. With the rise of AI-powered sound and adaptive audio systems, new possibilities are emerging for personalized and context-aware design. At the same time, these innovations bring ethical questions: how much influence should sound have over behavior, and how can designers ensure it is used responsibly?

Connor highlights the importance of balancing innovation with transparency, ensuring that audio systems remain trustworthy and respectful of users.

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

Listeners also get a personal view of Connor’s day-to-day work. From early sound experiments to building immersive sonic experiences for voice interfaces and VR, he shares stories that reveal the creativity and problem-solving behind audio design. The episode even touches on his favorite resources and inspirations, offering a roadmap for anyone curious about exploring the field.

Listen to the Full Episode

This episode is a deep dive into the craft and future of audio UX, offering valuable insights for designers, technologists, and brand leaders alike. Connor makes the case that sound is not optional in modern product design—it is a core part of how people experience technology.

Listen to the full conversation on Spotify

We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Adobe on what good audio user experiences should sound like:

Follow the link for the full read: https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/perspectives/wireframe-podcast/ui-sound-design-audio-feedback-enhances-ux-episode-10/

When The Guardian asked the question, “How should electric vehicles sound?” it showed that the conversation around EV sound design is no longer limited to engineers and regulators. It is now part of the cultural dialogue. As vehicles transition from roaring combustion engines to near-silent electric motors, sound becomes both a safety necessity and a branding opportunity.

How Should Electric Vehicles Sound? A Sound Designer’s Perspective

For a sound designer, this is not just an interesting debate. It is a fundamental design challenge that will shape the future of mobility.

The Dual Purpose of EV Sound

Unlike traditional cars, electric vehicles are nearly silent at low speeds. On one hand, this silence creates a serene driving experience. On the other, it poses serious safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, and especially people who are visually impaired. That is why regulations now require EVs to emit artificial sounds at low speeds.

But safety is only half of the equation. The other half is experience. Sound can define how a vehicle feels to drive, how it reflects its brand, and how it connects emotionally with its owner. The same way an engine’s growl once signaled power, a carefully designed EV soundscape can signal innovation, calm, or futuristic elegance.

Branding Through Sound

Brands have always understood the power of visual identity. Logos, typefaces, and colors are carefully managed. Audio is just as important. Consider how recognizable the Netflix “ta-dum” or the Apple startup chime has become. Those two seconds of sound carry massive cultural weight.

For EV manufacturers, the sounds of acceleration, startup, and even in-cabin chimes are opportunities to build a unique sonic signature. Imagine a brand where the acceleration tone subtly reflects its sustainability mission with a sound inspired by nature. Contrast that with a brand that emphasizes speed and performance through sharper, more synthetic textures.

Sound is a brand asset. It is memory, identity, and emotion all wrapped in one.

Design Considerations for EV Sound

Designing sound for electric vehicles is not as simple as layering effects on top of silence. It is a process that blends art, psychology, and acoustics. Some of the most important considerations include:

• Cultural context: Sounds are interpreted differently across regions. What feels calming in one culture may feel unsettling in another.
• Emotional resonance: Should the soundscape lean synthetic, natural, or even human? A flute tone evokes softness and tradition. A synthesized hum conveys futurism.
• User experience integration: The sound cannot be an afterthought. It must blend seamlessly into the UX of driving, from startup tones to wayfinding alerts.
• Practicality: Sounds need to be noticeable without being intrusive. A balance between awareness and comfort is essential.

The Guardian article explored ideas like flutes, synths, and even the human voice. Each suggestion raises an important truth: the sound of EVs is not just a technical detail. It is a creative decision that impacts brand, culture, and safety all at once.

Our Take on EV Sound

Too often, the conversation stops at safety. Vehicles must alert pedestrians, but the bigger opportunity is to create a holistic sonic ecosystem that strengthens a brand at every touchpoint.

As sound designers, we view EV sound not as a regulatory requirement but as a canvas. It is a space where a company can differentiate, connect emotionally, and define the feeling of its product. Designing these sounds requires both creativity and restraint. The audio must be unique, but it also has to fade into the background of everyday driving in a natural way.

When approached thoughtfully, an EV’s soundscape can become as iconic as its silhouette. It can become a defining feature of its brand.

Designing the Future of EV Sound

The Guardian asked, “How should EVs sound?” The truth is, there is no single answer. Every brand deserves its own approach. A luxury EV should not sound like a performance EV. A sustainability-focused car should not sound like a technology-driven one.

The question is not just what electric vehicles should sound like, but how sound can become a deliberate part of the brand experience.

As the world transitions to electric mobility, we have a chance to design the future of automotive sound with intention. Done right, EV soundscapes will make streets safer, enrich driver experiences, and give brands new ways to connect.

At Connor Moore Sound, we specialize in creating audio identities that go beyond function. We build sound as a brand asset. If your company is exploring electric mobility or wants to design a sonic signature that stands out, let’s talk.

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