Interaction - Bachelor

Sonic Brick

Sonic Brick is an interactive LEGO-based music system that transforms LEGO building into sound. Using EV3 sensors and Python, it scans LEGO structures to generate corresponding musical notes. The project reimagines creative play as a multisensory experience, allowing users to “hear” their builds as they explore rhythm, structure, and expression through tangible design.

Gary Nguyen

Building LEGO has always been a silent experience…

it’s time to let it sing. Meet Sonic Brick

Turning play into performance, an interactive LEGO system that transforms your builds into sound.

Sonic Brick reimagines LEGO as a musical instrument. Each tower and pattern you build is scanned by an EV3-powered machine that turns structure into melody. By connecting physical play with audio feedback, the project explores how sound can enhance creativity, learning, and tactile engagement.

Instruction Page 1

Building the Base of Sound

Start with a 16×16 LEGO baseplate, your blank musical canvas. Each 2×2 brick you add represents a single musical cell, and every layer in height corresponds to a new pitch. The baseplate divides into an 8×8 grid, giving you sixty-four playable notes to experiment with. Keep your bricks fully inside each 2×2 cell; if they overlap, the scanner won’t read them correctly. Think of stacking height as composing upward, one brick tall equals a low C, thirteen bricks tall reaches high C. Before long, your LEGO structure isn’t just a build, it’s a melody waiting to be heard.
Instruction Page 2

From Structure to Sound

Once your build is complete, place it into the Sonic Brick machine and press Scan. The system reads from top-left to bottom-right, translating each column of bricks into notes. As the EV3 scanner moves, watch your creation come alive, mechanical motion transforming into rhythm. When the scan finishes, you can play your song on screen, adjusting tempo and volume to suit your sound. Not sure what to build? Explore the suggested compositions in the “Instructions” tab, or experiment freely and see how your structures sing. With Sonic Brick, building isn’t silent anymore — it’s music in motion.

aLL MY FAILED ATTEMPTS

Gary Nguyen

Gary Nguyen is an international student who has called Brisbane home for the past seven years. Now completing a double degree in Computer Science and Interaction Design, he has gained experience across government and tech sectors, combining data analysis, system design, and user-focused thinking to turn complex challenges into practical, meaningful solutions.