what is the sound of all human knowledge?”
Sound helps shape our perception and how we learn about the world around us. Some sounds are quite simple to identify, like the sound of a rocket launch or the sound of waves crashing against the shore. But how about the sound of all human knowledge?
The Wikimedia movement is searching for a sound logo that will identify content from all of our projects, like Wikipedia, when visual logos are not an option — for example, when virtual voice assistants answer queries.
Through an open contest, organised by the Wikimedia Foundation, we are inviting the world to create The Sound of All Human Knowledge. This sound will help communicate what the Wikimedia movement stands for — trustworthy, reliable, open, and accessible knowledge for all.
Contest overview
Accepting submissions until 10 October 2022
As a movement, we believe we build better when we build together, which is why we are inviting the world to help us create The Sound of All Human Knowledge.
Submissions for the Wikimedia sound logo contest will be accepted between the 13th of September 2022 at 00:00 UTC and the 10th of October 2022 by 23:59 UTC. We reserve the right to close the submission early (after notice on the submission page.)
We invite you to create a sound that is global, smart, and familiar — a sound that will soon be recognised around the world as The Sound of All Human Knowledge. Your original submission must capture the essence of everything Wikimedia stands for. It should respond to questions like: “What is the sound of discovering something new?” or “What is the sound of trusted information?” or even “What is the sound of winning an argument?”
The winner will receive $2,500 USD and a trip to a recording studio to produce the final sound logo. Before submitting your entry, make sure your entry follows the contest rules listed in the Contest Information and Criteria. If you need some motivation, look at these free resources to get started. Submit your sound
The submission phase of The Sound of All Human Knowledge ends on the 10th of October 2022. A panel of Wikimedia volunteers, together with sound logo experts from MassiveMusic and an independent musicologist will review submissions until the 29th of November 2022. They will identify 10 finalists based on the following criteria: Conceptual match, originality/uniqueness, and potential for strong brand recall. Once the finalists have been selected, you will be able to cast your vote for the winner.
Every day, we invite the world to create the sum of all human knowledge. Now, we are inviting the world to create The Sound of All Human Knowledge.
Voting for Wikimedia’s new sound logo starts on the 29th of November 2022 and goes until the 19th of December 2022. Help find the entry that best summarises all that Wikimedia stands for.
In early 2023, the world will finally hear The Sound of All Human Knowledge! Wikimedia’s new sound logo will help users all over the world know when they are listening to credible, open content sourced from Wikimedia projects.
Contest information and criteria
Entries should follow the guidelines listed below in order to be considered. Download contest information and criteria as a printable document in PDF or text format.
Start by thinking conceptually about the answer to this question: What is The Sound of All Human Knowledge?
- The answer should be a sound that is global, smart, and familiar.
- It should embody one of the following creative prompts that we put together as inspiration: Connections Forming, Knowledge Growing, Question & Answer, Trusted Information, Free & Open Knowledge, Humans of the Wikimedia Movement, or something similar.
- It should feature a mix of sounds, sound effects, and layers.
- It should not feature spoken words in any language.
- It should use more than just computer-based sounds (e.g. the sound of typing on a keyboard).
- It should be a representation of the shared, global experience of discovery, without singling out a culture or location.
Not sure where to start? Try these free resources to begin!
Click on Submit your sound. You will be prompted to read and accept the contest rules, fill out your information, add contributors (if any), add the tools used, and briefly explain your sound and inspiration. Note that by uploading your sound logo you give the Wikimedia Foundation the right to reproduce and perform your audio without attribution during the duration of the contest. Read more in the contest rules.
Any person who is over the age of 13 years can enter. Just as we welcome everyone to edit Wikipedia, we welcome everyone to this contest. You do not need to be a professional musician or producer to enter.
Your original sound logo submission should be at least 1 second and no more than 4 seconds long, made with a single/multiple original sounds, and/or a single/multiple CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) or public domain pre-recorded sounds (or a remix of CC0/public domain sounds). Submissions will be accepted in MP3, OGG, or WAV and can be no larger than 100MB. Each person can make up to 3 sound logo submissions.
A panel of Wikimedia volunteers, with the help of sound logo experts from MassiveMusic and an independent musicologist, will give the entries that meet the submission criteria scores out of 10 for each of the following criteria. Each section has a different weight that will count towards the average of the final score:
- Conceptual match: To what extent does the sound logo represent the spirit of the Wikimedia movement? How closely does the sound logo communicate one of the creative prompts? To what extent does it feel human, inspired, smart and warm?—50% weight.
- Originality/uniqueness: To what extent does the sound logo feel original and unique? How much does it stand out compared to other sound logos?—25% weight.
- Potential for strong brand recall: How easily do you feel you could recall the sound logo? How easily do you feel you would be able to replicate (sing / hum / tap) the sound logo?—25% weight.
Play your part. Submit a sound.
Wikimedia is the movement behind Wikipedia and 12 other free knowledge projects. These projects are made possible by volunteers, affiliate groups, and organisations, including the Wikimedia Foundation. Together, these groups comprise what we call the “Wikimedia movement” which works toward a vision of a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.
Resources
Free audio software and helpful resources to create your entry.
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