Oio and Mattering's Mur Mur: A Portable Speaker Simulating Living Ecosystems
Oio, a creative firm recognized for its collaborations with Ikea, Google, YouTube, UAL, and the V&A, teamed up with design studio Mattering to develop the Mur Mur, a portable speaker that mimics a living ecosystem. This innovative device produces ambient soundscapes from a virtual realm populated by AI agents resembling various creatures. Available in three styles—Pond, Block, and Plot—each variant showcases unique designs and inhabitants. It creates an environment with dynamic rhythms, weather patterns, and social interactions, generating an ever-changing soundscape influenced by user engagement. Users can shake the speaker to induce activity. The project incorporated software like Cinema4D and Blender, with music by artist Morgan, featuring 300,000 custom sound effects. Oio is currently working on its commercial release, receiving favorable feedback from users.
Key facts
- Oio and Mattering created the Mur Mur, a portable speaker that simulates living ecosystems.
- The Mur Mur features three variants: Pond, Block, and Plot, each with unique inhabitants.
- The device generates ambient soundscapes from AI agents living inside it.
- Users can shake the Mur Mur to create commotion among the agents.
- The project was developed using Cinema4D, Houdini, Figma, Fusion, and Blender.
- Music was created in collaboration with musical artist Morgan, using 300,000 custom sound effects.
- Mattering designed the ecosystems in Houdini and ported them to a three.js prototype.
- The project is currently speculative, but Oio is working on making it available for purchase.
Entities
Artists
- Matteo Loglia
- Morgan
Institutions
- Oio
- Mattering
- Ikea
- YouTube
- UAL
- V&A
- It's Nice That
- oio
- mattering
- designboom