chladni plate

The Chladni Plate: How do you ‘see’ sound waves?

That’s what we asked ourselves when we were seeking inspiration for the design of this site. Chladni’s plates, rooted in 200 years of history, quickly became the solution. A Chladni plate consists of a flat sheet of metal, usually circulate or square. When the plate oscillates in a particular mode of vibration, nodes and antinodes form complex but symmetrical patterns over its surface. GCRS’ developers coded a digital simulation and commissioned Framestore to design a unique animation, amplified by a selection of original compositions created by our sound designers. We welcome you to adjust the sounds in the navigation bar at the top of the page and enjoy the experience.