Music doesn’t just exist in the moment we hear it, it continues to reverberate through how we see, feel, and remember. Theory in Resonance is a space within Resona dedicated to exploring the emotional, psychological, and design-driven dimensions of music, the theories, visuals, and sensations that make sound truly resonate.

At its core, this section stems from the belief that music is more than sound, it’s memory, emotion, and meaning. The music industry and live environment draw on every corner of the creative world, from visual design and photography to performance and production. Drawing on ideas from gestalt theory (Arnheim, 1974), semiotics (Barthes, 1977), and visual hierarchy (Lidwell, Holden & Butler, 2010), Theory in Resonance examines how design, perception, and emotion intertwine to shape the way we experience music. It’s about those synaesthetic moments when sound becomes colour, texture, or movement — when atmosphere becomes feeling, and design becomes part of the rhythm (Cytowic, 2002).

We’ll explore the psychology of collective euphoria at live events (Durkheim, 1912/1995), the sensory crossovers of synaesthesia, and the visual language behind album art, data visualisation, and stage aesthetics. Each feature in this series bridges creative theory and lived experience, blending design thinking, imagery, and collaboration to uncover why music moves us, emotionally, visually, and physically.

By collaborating with artists, designers, photographers, and thinkers, Theory in Resonance opens up new ways of seeing and understanding the power of sound. These articles go beyond traditional reviews, reflecting on how music shapes identity, fuels creativity, and connects communities through shared emotion and design.

Because at Resona, we believe music doesn’t just play, it resonates, leaving traces in our minds, our designs, and our collective imagination.

References

  • Arnheim, R. (1974) Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Barthes, R. (1977) Image, Music, Text. London: Fontana Press.
  • Cytowic, R.E. (2002) Synesthesia: A Union of the Senses. 2nd ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • Durkheim, É. (1995) The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. New York: Free Press. (Original work published 1912).
  • Lidwell, W., Holden, K. and Butler, J. (2010) Universal Principles of Design. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers.