Synthesiser design discussion

The Lounge
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I’ve been thinking, is there a place to discuss hardware design of synthesisers?

As a profession I’m a graphic designer & visual artist, and I notice when I buy a new synth (focusing on hardware) I’m sensitive to the design choices that were made : What material, colour scheme, typography, knob placement (why not sliders?). Also the UI/UX design - what screen, how information is shown on screen, how the menu works, shortcut system, what the design philosophy is behind a synth, etc etc. I’m sure some of you have this too?

Now, I’m not a product designer, but it’s something I would like to be able to discuss with people who are. Because I would also like to learn more about product design! :slight_smile:

So : Is there a place to talk about hardware design? UI/UX design? Are there professional industrial or hardware designers here on the forum? Maybe I’m missing a Youtube channel or website focused on this?

Thanks!
M.

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Interesting topic, a lot of synths and gear have rather subpar interfaces. Whether physical or digital.

You should check out this book:

Also, apparently Axel Hartmann has been involved in designing a lot of synths

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There is no good resource I’ve seen. I didn’t like that book (mostly pretty pictures of interfaces rather than information about their intricacies). I think you have to try things and trust your instincts. The worst design is always the stuff that feels like it was designed by committee or following trends. But here are a couple videos with papernoise who designed the mutable instruments stuff and more, maybe they’ll give you an idea or two.

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Having never designed an instrument but “systems” I would say think about the following priorities:

  1. User is a musician - not an IT-expert nor an electronic nerd :wink:
  2. UI could follow either conventional designs like designes from Axel Hartmann - nobody wants to learn new workflows all the time again and again for basic and standard tasks …
  3. or think very deep, if trying something creative - like Don Buchla did
  4. Most of us don’t like menu-diving - it just isn’t intiutive often. A synth is an instrument after all and IMO the less we need a screen the better.
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There’s this existing thread: Importance of Ergonomics and Usability

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(Youtube video post)

How Elektron Design Instruments: Product Designer Interview

Mylarmelodies: "I got a chance to sit down with Jean-Michel Pepin - a product designer at Elektron who worked on Syntakt, Digitakt II, Digitone II, Analog Heat+FX, Overbridge and much more - about how Elektron design & update products, his work there, and lessons learned.

This was recorded at the London Synth & Pedal Expo 2025!"

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“Meet Stephen Petoniak, Designer of Iconic Moog Synths”

Hardware synthesiser design in a software age

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