Globalization
The concept that content and technology are consumed differently by users depending on their location, language, culture, and industry is known as globalization.
During the design process, UX designers may make a few key adjustments to create better solutions for worldwide customers and marketplaces. Collaboration at early and ongoing stages helps teams identify the most important aspects of design to benefit global users.
Guidelines
Globalization is more than merely translating information from one language to another. Localization and internationalization decisions are examples of intelligent and universal design. Internationalization means changing a product so it works with other languages and layouts. Localization is the adaptation of a certain product to a certain market.
Here are guidelines to improve quality when designing for globalization:
- Correctly format numbers, dates, times, addresses, and phone numbers. These forms differ according to culture, area, language, and market.
- Create user interfaces to allow for varying text lengths and font sizes for labels and text input areas. Use conventional font sizes and line heights for appropriate vertical space.
- Explore colors diverse meanings per market. If you rely extensively on color in your designs, research what it implies in different regions of the world.
- Avoid text on images. If a picture requires more context, consider adding the text before or after the image.
- Accurately show text and typefaces. Markets may have different optimal fonts, font sizes, and text orientation.
- Reserve at least 30% space (recommended) for an English text component to assure content translated into other languages is not truncated.
- Ensure graphics, colors, iconography, and images are culturally appropriate. Outliers can have a significant impact on customer experience and the success of a product.
- Avoid using language to determine a user's region. Keep in mind, language and region are distinct concepts.
- Localize product languages with a different reading order than your own by first making sure your UI elements support mirroring.
- Employ a variety of people who know the location. When feasible, use culturally appropriate imagery. If not available, always go neutral.