How Do You Adapt Web Design to Different Cultural Contexts?
In the diverse world of web design, adapting to different cultural contexts is crucial. We've gathered insights from web developers and CEOs, detailing five scenarios where they had to navigate this complex terrain. From considering language and mobile accessibility to choosing colors with cultural awareness, these professionals share their major considerations for international web design.
- Consider Language and Mobile Accessibility
- Implement Language-Specific Search Filters
- Localize Content for Cultural Relevance
- Adapt Visuals for Regional Sensitivities
- Choose Colors with Cultural Awareness
Consider Language and Mobile Accessibility
I contributed to a nonprofit website in the Philippines. We focused on several key considerations to ensure cultural relevance and effectiveness. One major consideration is language and communication style: using Filipino or Tagalog as the primary language, along with clear, respectful, and community-oriented messaging. We integrated culturally familiar imagery and symbols, such as local landmarks, traditional attire, and community events, to create a sense of connection and authenticity. Lastly, optimizing for mobile access is crucial, as many users in the Philippines primarily access the internet through their smartphones.
Implement Language-Specific Search Filters
In a recent project, I enhanced a Drupal Search API Solr search tool to improve the user experience for sorting search results between Anglophone, Francophone, and Deaf content. The educational content featured on the site was categorized using taxonomies (stream: Anglophone, Francophone, Deaf), so I implemented a facet that allowed users to filter search results by the language of the content.
To achieve this, I restructured the facets, positioning the 'stream' facet as the primary filtering option, ensuring that users could easily focus their search based on their preferred language. This primary facet served as a call to action, efficiently guiding users to relevant content.
Localize Content for Cultural Relevance
Our WordPress support company, LunarWP, was hired to maintain and update the website for an international business. The company operates in both the UK and India.
At first, their WordPress website was made only in English for the UK office. But as the Indian branch grew, they started receiving complaints that the website didn't feel relevant to the local culture.
People pointed out that some of the images, colors, and wording used came across as confusing or even unintentionally rude from an Indian cultural perspective. We realized their one-size-fits-all website approach wasn't going to work anymore.
So our team got to work on a plan to make the site more culturally appropriate for their diverse audiences. First, we made it easy to translate all the text into Hindi and other Indian languages.
Then we broke the design into modular pieces that could be customized for each culture. For the Indian version, we changed colors, icons, and imagery to align with local symbols and meanings.
However, the core structure, menus, and functionality stayed consistent across both the UK and Indian versions. This allowed us to localize the look while keeping things technically simple.
We created a special login area for the company's team to easily update the cultural versions themselves going forward. We provided guidance on being respectful of cultural differences too.
With our changes, the company could finally connect with their UK and Indian employees and customers in a relevant way. People said they appreciated feeling understood by the website instead of feeling like an afterthought.
Maintaining a global website is challenging, but breaking it into customizable pieces while keeping the backend simple made WordPress flexible for diverse cultures. Adding some local flair makes websites resonate much better worldwide.
Adapt Visuals for Regional Sensitivities
As the General Manager of DesignRush, I have encountered several scenarios wherein we had to adapt web designs for varying cultural contexts. A case in point was the expansion of a fashion e-commerce platform into the Middle East. Our major consideration was the visual representation of the platform, given the region's respectful and conservative view on clothing, especially for women. Hence, we curated a website design that was not just visually appealing but also culturally appropriate.
We replaced images that could be deemed disrespectful in the local cultural context and focused on demonstrating our products' value by emphasizing their quality, uniqueness, and cultural relevance. This approach not only improved our user engagement but also elevated the brand perception in these new markets. So, the key takeaway here is to always conduct an in-depth cultural audit when designing websites for different markets, as it proves crucial in understanding the audience and their respective norms and values.
Choose Colors with Cultural Awareness
As the CEO of Startup House, I once had to adapt a web design for a client targeting both the US and Japanese markets. One major consideration was the color scheme—while bright colors may be appealing in the US, they can be seen as garish in Japan. We had to carefully choose a more muted color palette that would resonate with both audiences, ensuring the design was culturally sensitive and effective in both markets. It was a challenging but rewarding experience that taught us the importance of understanding cultural nuances in web design.
