Publication by Miguel Sepulveda.
In part 1 of our series on user experience (UX) we explored what UX is and why it is important. In this second part we will focus on how culture, language and design come together to deliver a great user experience.
A study by App Annie reveals some staggering statistics. 50 percent of the top 10 countries in terms of downloads and revenue are non-English speaking European and East Asian countries. Booming! Roughly half of a company’s potential users might never see their perfectly crafted English user interface (UI).
The connection between culture, language and design as UX elements has traditionally been overlooked. Now, however, that is changing. And it's crucial that professionals working in the field of UX—researchers, writers and program managers—integrate linguistic and cultural aspects as fundamental variables that contribute to a satisfying user experience.
When approaching the design phase of software development, it’s important to have the knowledge to shape the UX strategy in a way that meets people's needs across markets. When creating content, it’s important to keep in mind how people from different countries and cultures will interact with the product. Businesses need to level up their expertise in the use of language in UX design. Similarly, they should look to develop their know-how on designing effective user interfaces for global audiences.
Words move users towards an action, and writing for international audiences is notoriously tough.