Hey there, it’s Patrick from Noise Engineering. If you follow NE on social media, you’ve probably noticed that every Friday we post a Question of the Week. Recently, the team got together in person and started talking about how those questions come to life. We thought it might be fun to peel back the curtain a bit and share how we brainstorm questions, design the graphics, and sometimes argue about which ones should never see the light of day. 

How it started

Every Friday since March of 2019, Noise Engineering has asked a question. Some of the questions have been simple, while others have been thought-provoking and deep. Question of the Week started as a small, fun engagement experiment, originally posted by Markus and appearing in our Instagram Stories. Instagram had just rolled out the new “Ask a Question” feature, and we thought we’d give it a shot. The Q’s proved to be quite popular, but due to the nature of Stories, they disappeared after 24 hours.

To give these questions a bit more life, we moved them to the main feed on Instagram and eventually added them to our other social channels. We noticed something interesting: people were still commenting weeks after the initial post.

When I joined the team full-time, I took over the role of Question Asker and began adding graphic treatment to help the posts stand out from text graphics. Over time, the visuals evolved. Using tools like Photoshop and Canva, I developed a consistent look while keeping the layout clean and readable. I intentionally avoid AI-generated graphics, preferring a more hands-on, deliberate design approach that fits Noise Engineering’s personality.

How the Qs are chosen

As for what to ask each week, my goal has always been simple: create something lightweight that invites conversation without requiring a demo, product release, or sales pitch. I try to write the questions so no one has to think too long about the answer. Many come from conversations at synth community events, or from ideas that pop up while I’m patching with our gear.

The questions aren’t always modular-synth related. Over the years, I’ve learned that our community loves talking about pets, concerts, food, nostalgia, health, and travel just as much as oscillators and effects.

Many times I’ll throw a half-year’s worth of questions to the team in Slack and we argue it out there. Other times I just surprise them.

The simplest question came on a Friday in 2022 when I was feeling a bit meta and posted nothing but a question mark, asking, “What should we ask next week?”

The most complex Question of the Week I’ve created so far came in 2024. It featured a cemetery scene with a hand reaching out of a grave, holding a patch cable, alongside the question, “If you could bring a piece of gear back from the dead, which would it be?” It also served as a precursor to the release of Confundo Funkidos, the sequel to the discontinued Confundo Funkitus.

Some questions have taken on a life of their own. One week I asked, “When I say ANALOG, what’s your first thought?” The comments kept coming for weeks.

There have now been 365 QOTWs since we started.

Sad Question of the Week

Of course, not every week is easy. There have been moments when the world felt heavy, when creative energy was low, and when coming up with something thoughtful felt like a stretch. During those times, I kept a running list of QOTWs that probably wouldn’t make the cut. I informally titled them “Sad Question of the Week.” Why not share a few of those now:

Got a Q?

I hope these questions have made a difference in your day and helped you find like-minded people who share your interests. I’ve even made a few friends through these comments. If you have a question you’d like to see featured, I’d love to hear from you. Drop your ideas in our Discord anytime. Pitch something weird. Pitch something deep. Pitch something completely unexpected. I’ll read any and all suggestions. Question of the Week is for everyone.