Internationalization
Users of our design system can modify their implementation to build experiences that work everywhere by allowing users to complete journeys in their preferred language and locale. The guidelines below consider languages that use different alphabets, spacing, word length, and right-to-left reading direction.
Think Globally
When designing one experience for an international audience, consider the below questions to guide your design decisions:
- How will users globally interact with your product?
- Will they feel your product is clear and easy to use in their locale or language?
- Will the product’s intended meaning come across clearly in a different locale?
Definitions
Internationalization: The process of designing a product so that it is easily consumable across multiple countries and languages.
Localization: Adapting your product’s design so that it works well visually and semantically for different locales and languages. For example, adjusting design for different semantic meanings behind icons or colors or aligning text properly for RTL languages.
Bidirectionality: Adapting your product so that a user of your product is able to have the expected user experience whether the language being implemented reads from left-to-right or right-to-left. Some languages also utilize both directions, such as right-to-left for text in that dialect, and left-to-right for numbers or embedded Latin languages.
Locale: A place or region you are referencing as it relates to a specific event or characteristic.
Translation: The process of rewriting text from one language into another while maintaining the original meaning behind the text.
Understanding Your Market
Every market has its own cultural norms and nuances. When designing for any locale, it is important to take time to understand your market. Learn more about the importance of understanding your market from Amex Brand.
Resources
- Amex Brand International Font Download
- WCAG 2.1 criteria 3.1.1 Language of Page
- WCAG 3.1.2 Language of Parts
- W3C Internationalization
Updates
| Version | Change Date | Link |
|---|---|---|
| v7.0 | August 27th, 2024 | v7.0 Release notes |
Questions?
Connect with the DLS Team on Slack or by email.
Resources
Check out additional resources.