In this research, we present a systematic approach to generate a sound effect to represent a product function. By constructing a morphological chart with sound attributes and building a relationship model between product functions and sound attributes, designers can design sound effect based on the relationship model. To generate suitable sounds for representing product functions, sound attributes are selected from the morphological chart. The suitable sounds are synthesized and been applied to let users knowing product functions easier when using the product.

We categorize the sound effects on representing product functions into 4 categories, Question, Reminder, Alert and Feedback, and select two representative sound effects in each category. A morphological chart is constructed by 3 music attributes: rhythm, pitch and C melody. To develop the relationship between product functions and sounds, we selected 30 sound samples and eight product functions as variables. We used scale of subjective to measure the relationship quantitatively between product functions and sounds, and then built the relationship model by the Quantification Type I analysis.

We developed a perception space of 30 music samples by multidimensional scale method, and obtained the relationship between the coordination in the perception space and the music attributes by the Quantification Type I analysis. With all the relationship models, a sound effect plan is proposed. Finally, the sound effect plan is verify by couple samples T test. In the test, we found out that designing the sounds for the functions of cameras based on all the relationship models is better than designing without these models.