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We know that the sound of a parent’s voice soothes their baby. Just as importantly, sound and song create deep connections and have a profound effect on parents‘ sense of self.
Sound Origins was developed with Kirsty Jane, a specialist music therapist in the Neonatal Unit at University College London Hospitals, together with parents and staff with personal experience of having and caring for babies with life-limiting conditions.
Through co-design workshops and an ongoing process of design research and experimentation, we supported Kirsty in developing a website, animations and a journal that help parents connect with their baby, healthcare staff and their wider families and care communities.
In our first parent workshop, we asked parents to share their feelings and hopes for the project.
“When your baby is in neonatal care, everything can feel fragile. Singing, speaking and holding your baby can all help. How can we help other parents and those working in neonatal care understand the value of sound and song when there are so many emotional and practical challenges to face?”
We shared ideas about guides, animations and audio tools to start conversations. Their insights and experience directly shaped the project‘s form, language and visual direction.
In our second workshop, we explored Kirsty’s research on the effect of sound and song at different times, seeking to understand where communication and support would be most valuable.
In one workshop, a parent told us that her emotions were like the weather. This inspired a design direction that explores the relationship between feelings, sound and the physical environment.
“Just like the weather, our feelings can change from moment to moment. Some days feel warm and comforting, others are stormy or filled with rain. Each section invites you to explore a different emotional landscape through sound and song.”
We explored how colour and image connected with melody and rhythm, and worked with artist and animator, Pascal Hervey, to define the visual language.
We developed a journal in multiple languages as a physical space for parents to reflect, connect and find moments of calm at challenging times.
“Created for you by professionals and parents who have spent time in the neonatal unit with a baby with an uncertain future. You’ll find ideas, blank spaces and playlist suggestions for different times and feelings. There’s no right or wrong way to use it.”
The website integrates sound and song playlists for both parents and staff created by previous neonatal parents. These can be copied, shared and edited via Spotify to create unique sets of sounds for different communities, languages and cultures.
We created two videos to demonstrate how Sound Origins is designed to help parents, healthcare professionals and music therapists use sound to foster connections – with themselves, their babies and their support network. (Click the volume button to play with sound.)
Alongside the needs of parents, we listened to the experiences of nurses and clinical staff. They acknowledged their own pressures and recognised that they, too, could benefit from sharing music and supporting each other as well as parents.
We designed these ‘Ask me’ badges to encourage staff to engage with parents about using sound and song. Staff have shared that these badges help by:
– Making parents feel heard and more connected to their baby
– Offering parents a simple, loving way to be present, even during challenging moments
– Strengthening the baby’s bond with their wider family
– Supporting parents in building a deeper relationship with their child
The ambition is for this method of care to become embedded across all neonatal units. It helps change the perception of families and clinicians, ensuring that everyone’s baby feels part of life, no matter how fragile or brief their life may be.
If you are working on projects that explore compassion and care with diverse and often excluded communities, we would love to explore ways of collaborating and supporting your work. Please get in touch.
