Sometimes sounds can be as important as logos to define a company or anything. Examples are Netflix’s ‘ta-dum’ sound or Apple’s startup sound on their Macs. Now Wikipedia has an iconic voice of its own.
Dubbed the “Voice of All Humanity’s Knowledge,” this sound consists of the fluttering of book pages, keyboard clicks, and synthesized tones.
In keeping with Wikipedia, the four-second audio was community-sourced. The Wikimedia Foundation hosted an audio logo finder contest for “projects where visual logos are not an option.” After more than 3,000 submissions, the warm, happy notes followed by the book and keyboard sounds created by Thaddeus Osborne were selected.
Osborne, a Nuclear Scientist, will receive a $2,500 prize for being the creator of the winning sound. Additionally, Wikimedia will provide a free trip to a professional recording studio to help finalize the audio logo.
The foundation aims to have the completed audio ready for use by June of this year.