Founded in 2011 in Ahmedabad, India, Apical Reform is a collaborative design studio dedicated to creating immersive experiences led by art and innovation in production technology. From designing collectible furniture to bespoke design-art pieces, in five short years, the studio has found a definitive creative voice.

Sonuslexica is a cutting-edge installation specially commissioned for Design Days Dubai 2017, created using sonic waves and the latest digital printing technology. Principal and founder Amrish Patel talks techniques, future plans and finding a permanent home for this unique design icon of the future.

Q: The process of creating your installation Sonuslexica for Design Days Dubai involved recording the words Peace, Harmony, Diversity, Respect, Growth and Happiness spoken by UAE nationals in their native languages and dialects and translating them into 3d visualisations through Sound Wave technology. In layman’s terms, how did you translate sound samples into shapes and designs and in turn into wooden totems?

A: We play with the wave properties of sound. After recording the vocals, we will isolate the wave pattern. Each word will have a different wave pattern in different languages. Once we have established the wave diagram of a word, we will refine it into planar surface that looks like someone drew a wave. Revolving the planar surface on an axis leads to 3d visualization of the sound wave. Through digital fabrication, the visualised sound samples are then transformed into totems (see the film below).

Q: The installation is composed of three sections – the Root, the Sky and the Sea - representing 'the soul of a city that holds dear its values, respects its resources and continually aims for greater heights'. A ripple pool at the base of the installation represents the Persian Gulf and its long-standing contribution to the growth of the Emirate.  How did you turn the same sounds that make up the totem into waves on the surface of the pool?

A: An abstraction of the recorded words that are converted into totems will make up a soundtrack - an audio composition, if you will. We plan on installing a speaker beneath the platform that forms the base of the ripple pool. The waves on the water surface will be a result of the beats emanating from the speaker.

Sonuslexica is done by documenting soundwaves and turning the ridges into tangible shapes.

Q: The Sky section of the installation consists of a stylised skyline of Dubai, extolling its world famous architectural landmarks. Are there plans to find a permanent home for the installation in the city to preserve this extraordinary design icon of the future which offers a snapshot of its rapidly evolving urban landscape?

A: This is an ode to the city and its people. We see Sonuslexica as a design piece that can inspire people and communities to achieve greater heights, achieve them together and achieve them while remaining rooted in humanity. We would love to see it as a permanent exhibit at a venue like the Etihad Museum, or at Emirates Tower podium, where a larger cross-section of people can experience it long after Design Days Dubai 17.

Q: As well as exhibiting your collectible furniture and design-art pieces at Design Days Dubai, you are creating a large City Sign inspired by the ripples in sand dunes which will spell out the name of the city and be placed at an important location in the Emirate. Are you planning to open a permanent gallery in the city soon?

A: Through our presentation at Downtown Design last year, we found great synergy between what we were creating and the regional and international audience that Dubai attracts. We found kinship with Dubai Design District. We find it pioneers the regional creative community and gives international brands and designers a platform to reach out to the region. So yes, we are working on a gallery space in Dubai Design District. The design is under conceptual planning – as you can imagine to be one’s own client is both challenging and an opportunity to create a concept without limitations. We plan to open the gallery later this year, and it will be a blank canvas for our works to take center stage.

Design Days Dubai runs from 13 to 17 March at Dubai Design District, for visitor information click here.

To know more about Apical Reform, click here .