A Sensory Conversation with Graphic Designer Kayla on Synesthesia

In this world, all things connect. Our experiences, our gifts, and the people we meet along our life’s journey. There’s a beauty and power in this connection, and this is exactly what graphic designer, Kayla wants her viewers to understand. Kayla is the creator of Sensory Conversations, a personal project birthed from a desire to gain more self discipline and hone in on her super power, Synesthesia. A condition that blends the senses and causes the stimulation of one sense to simultaneously stimulate another. 

“Many things in life are related, and synesthesia is a spectrum in which you can experience.” - Says Kayla. 

Sensory Conversations is a digital exhibit that displays a series of motion graphics based on the relation of sound and color. When coming across this instagram page you will experience a medley of colors in perfect blend with some of Kayla’s favorite tunes. Keep reading to join in on a conversation about sensory, connection and what I like to call the hidden sense. ︎

A SENSORY CONVERSATION

TRUTUYOU : What is Sensory Conversations?

 

KAYLA :

The project on instagram was started by a conversation that I had with my boyfriend based on discipline. I tend to lack that, so I was desperately trying to gain it. The videos were inspired by my Synesthesia, more specifically Chromesthesia (the relationship of sound and color.) One video spawned an idea of curating an entire series of videos and placing them on Instagram. I chose Instagram as a way to showcase how my synesthesia interacts with music and how I could combine my knowledge of motion graphics with that. 

TRUTUYOU : I love the inspiration behind it. It’s such a cool project! I had never heard of synesthesia before this and had to look it up lol. For the people who don’t know, what is Synesthesia exactly?

KAYLA :

No worries, haha, it’s not a commonly talked about thing. Synesthesia, via Healthline, “is a neurological condition in which information mean’t to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses. People who have synesthesia are called synesthetes.”

TRUTUYOU : How does your Synesthesia manifest? I read that some people can smell music or see letters in colors, what is your experience?

KAYLA :

For me, my synesthesia manifests in the form of chromesthesia, which is the relation of sound and color. I have always felt an association of colors, numbers and sounds since I was younger, but I never knew what it was entirely, just that I could relate these things together. For Sensory Conversations in particular, I honed in on chromesthesia and what the various songs I used looked like based on color and sound. 

TRUTUYOU : What inspires your song and color choice? Do you create the motion graphics based on your current mood and feelings? 

KAYLA :

Much of what inspires me is my childhood and things I see within nature/the world. I’ve always been a big nature fan because of my grandfather and growing up with him and my grandmother plays a large part in that. 

The Sensory Conversation videos were made with songs’ mood in mind. The way I created them was like a two part process; I would find songs that seemed to give me a story in my head or a feeling from them. From there, I based what those feelings looked like to me in color form and did that throughout the entire project. 

TRUTUYOU : What messages do you want to send out through Sensory Conversations?

KAYLA :

I want people to see how these colors and the songs I chose can relate to each other. If it’s Sade, she has a more sultry energy to her work, so I chose purples and deeper colors. They don’t feel dark but calming. I also want viewers to understand that many things in life are related and Synesthesia is a spectrum in which you can experience. 

TRUTUYOU : That’s beautiful. I love how we can experience the beauty of life in so many ways and the art of synesthesia is one that I am now aware of. It’s almost like a hidden sense! Let’s talk about the woman behind this project. Who is Kayla?

KAYLA :

Well, Kayla is me haha. I recently graduated in August of 2020 during COVID. I’m from New Orleans, La and live here currently, but I’ve traveled all over the U.S. I really enjoy outdoors (until mosquitos come out), creating in any way I can and most times I would describe myself as a multi-hyphenate person being that I enjoy art across various mediums. 

I’ve pretty much been immersed in art since I was able to learn about it and I’m really thankful for family who let me foster that love for it. 

TRUTUYOU : If you could place a color to your aura, what color/s would it be and why?

KAYLA :

It’s funny you mention my own aura because I’ve always wanted to take one of those Aura pictures. However, if I had to place a color for my own I’d say it be around a deep blue/indigo with some hints of red. I find those colors to be most representative of my energy being a more introverted person while also being high energy when I’m around those I’m comfortable with. 

TRUTUYOU : What’s a album that you could never get tired of listening to?

KAYLA :

I think I’m gonna go with When I Get Home by Solange. I didn’t realize I knew that album pretty much front to back! 

TRUTUYOU : Do you have any affirmations or qoutes that you live by that keep you going?

KAYLA :

One specific affirmation I try to incorporate in my daily life is “Do everything with intention.” I like that I can create something and it have genuine meaning for me. 

TRUTUYOU : Lastly, in your own words, what does it mean to live true to self?

KAYLA :

To live true to self means to always show up as someone you want to be. No excuses, no false feelings. And sometimes that’s hard to do, but even in the smallest ways like changing your hair or carrying a small token with you can be defined as being true to self in my opinion. 

THANK YOU KAYLA! ︎

 Interviewed & written by