Ekoton Studio
Design & Research Studio with Attention to Sound
Ecotones are natural areas where two or more ecosystems meet and interact, creating some of the most vibrant and dynamic environments. Forest edges, estuaries, and tidal zones are examples of such transitional spaces. Ekoton—the Swedish equivalent of this term—is an emerging design studio strategically focused on intersections: between built and natural environments, research and practice, and the past, present and future. As a vector that connects these various dimensions, Ekoton places sound and listening at the core of its practice. In an age dominated by visual media, the studio seeks to carefully (re)turn to sound as a space for meaningful actions and transformative experiences.
Design & Innovation
We design services and experiences that put sound and listening at the center. They include audio guides, augmented soundwalks, audio-visual installations, soundscape compositions, audio narratives, podcasts and others. Our work is attentively tailored to specific audiences, places and venues.
Workshops & Events
We organize workshops and community events dedicated to raising awareness about sound in built and natural environments. Our formats include outdoor excursions, field recording activities, listening sessions as well as indoor workshops focused on theory and practice of acoustic ecology and soundscape composition including interaction with various audio recording technologies and construction of special microphones.
Research & Development
We collaborate with various public and private institutions on research projects concerned with soundscapes of our lived environments, in the past, presently and in the future. Research activities are pursued through a mix of established and creative methods such as sound ethnography, field recording techniques, participatory design, historical/archival research and interviews. We collaborate with museums, archives, heritage sites, national parks, NGOs, environmental & cultural organizations, architecture studios and universities.
Communication & Storytelling
We help organizations and individuals with increasing the effectiveness of their communication efforts by highlighting the significance of sound and listening. With this sharp attention to sound and use of innovative formats, we provide assistance in turning data, research findings and other complex narratives into compelling and transformative stories.
Jacek Smolicki
Founder / Director