Hager Group

Connecting U and I with Smart Door Sounds: Safe and simple door communication and designing UI sounds for Hager Group’s new indoor intercom devices.

Industry:

Electrical Manufacturing & Technology

Services:

UX/UI Sound Design Audio Identity Product Sonification

Overview

Hager Group is an independent, family-run electrical manufacturing company founded in Germany in 1955. Today, with manufacturing sites in 10 countries worldwide, they create products tailored to local installation requirements across homes, apartments, and modern commercial buildings.

As Hager Group evolved its design philosophy toward interactive technology, sound became a key element across its electrical installation portfolio. We joined the creative process to design informative, fresh sounds for their indoor intercom devices and mobile app.

The challenge

Hager Group needed a suite of 9 distinct UI sounds for their new indoor intercom and mobile application. The main challenge was crafting indoor-friendly sounds–creating ringtones and alerts that are soft, serene, and precise without being jarring or fading into background noise.

A primary goal was finding the right balance between aggressive alerts and a “zen garden” feel: simple, clear, and distinct from the overused marimba sounds common in traditional intercoms.

“When you have this doorbell system in your home you will be hearing these sounds day in and day out. This made it an intriguing creative challenge to get those sounds right–mixing synthetic sine waves with organic piano, mallet sounds, and field recordings.”

Ivo Thiemann

Sound Designer & Composer

The solution

At Sonic Minds, we began our exploration by collecting brand insights, ensuring Hager Group’s family-owned values–keeping people safe and heard through simple, serene, refreshing, and meaningful experiences–were reflected in every tone. We created a user journey connecting ringtones with unlock actions, Do Not Disturb (DND) activations, and message notifications.

We delivered a tailored suite of 9 indoor UI sounds that translate Hager Group’s brand identity into warm, clear, and serene tones suited for residential interiors and mobile app notifications.

Standard ringtone

Utilizes a signature melody anchored by warm piano instrumentation to provide a comforting, familiar, and crystal-clear sound signature.

Serene ringtone

Reinterprets the main melody by holding notes longer across upward scales, providing a calmer, deeper weight suited for peaceful home environments.

Bright / Accessible ringtone

Designed with accessibility in mind, keeping the melodic structure while brightening instrument timbres so alerts cut clearly through ambient indoor chatter or music.

Classic chime

A nostalgic alternative giving users a classic doorbell experience, paying homage to early traditional chimes before touchscreens and smart devices.

Staccato ringtone

Strips away reverb for a soft, punchy staccato feel–ideal for subtle mobile app notifications without interrupting quiet indoor spaces.

Door unlock sound

An informative tactile sound mimicking the mechanical turning of a physical key releasing a bolt, delivering clear functional feedback and satisfaction.

Do Not Disturb (DND) sound

A distinctive sound built around a gentle, organic “ssh!” gesture, intuitively signaling the activation of silent mode.

The result

The new indoor UI sound identity successfully unites functional clarity with acoustic comfort, ensuring every interaction–from receiving calls to unlocking doors–feels natural, trustworthy, and serene.

The resulting sound design seamlessly integrates across Hager Group’s physical hardware devices and digital mobile app touchpoints.

The product recently won the “Excellent Product Design Building and Elements” award at the German Design Award 2025.

“The way the product combines purist elegance and contemporary functionality has been achieved at a high level of design.”

Words from client

“I really loved your approach to the project and the depth you explored. You didn’t just complete the work–you also shared your knowledge with us, which I truly appreciated. The baseline of understanding you provided was incredibly useful and valuable. I also enjoyed the quality of our interactions. You were open-minded and thoughtful when discussing and analyzing feedback, and your high-level thinking led to excellent results. We were truly satisfied with the sounds. Your project management kept us on track, and I always felt we were in capable hands.”

Philomena Athanasiadou

Interaction Design Manager, Design Studio

Hager Group