How do you design UI for languages with different writing systems and orientations?

1 Know your target languages

Before you start designing UI, you need to research and understand the languages and scripts that your users speak and write. Different languages have different characteristics, such as direction, alignment, length, spacing, punctuation, capitalization, and fonts. For example, Arabic and Hebrew are written from right to left, while English and French are written from left to right. Chinese and Japanese use complex characters that require more space and attention than Latin alphabets. Some languages, such as German and Finnish, have long words that may not fit in narrow UI elements. You should also be aware of the regional and cultural variations within the same language, such as dialects, currencies, date formats, and symbols.

2 Use flexible and scalable UI elements

One of the main challenges of designing UI for multiple languages is accommodating the different sizes and shapes of text and graphics. To avoid truncation, overlap, or distortion, you should use flexible and scalable UI elements that can adjust to the content. For example, you can use auto-resizing buttons, text boxes, and menus that expand or contract based on the text length. You can also use responsive layouts that adapt to different screen sizes and orientations. You should avoid using fixed widths, heights, or positions for UI elements, as they may not work well for different languages.

3 Follow international standards and conventions

Another important aspect of designing UI for multiple languages is following the international standards and conventions that your users expect and understand. For example, you should use the appropriate symbols, icons, colors, and images that convey the intended meaning and function across cultures. You should also use the correct formats for numbers, dates, times, currencies, and units of measurement that match the local preferences and regulations. You should avoid using slang, idioms, metaphors, or humor that may not translate well or may offend some users.

4 Test and validate your UI design

The final step of designing UI for multiple languages is testing and validating your design with real users from different regions and backgrounds. You should conduct usability testing and user feedback sessions to check if your UI works well for different languages, scripts, and layouts. You should also use quality assurance tools and methods to ensure that your UI is consistent, accurate, and error-free across languages. You should also monitor and update your UI design based on the changing needs and expectations of your users.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?