Last year I got to work on an app that was ultimately going to be deployed globally in every market and every language including RTL (Right-to-Left) languages — with a specific focus on Arabic.
I have to admit this one was new for me, so I did some research, did some design, and learned some things. With a background in linguistics, this was fascinating for me.
Addition: I’m adding updates to this post as I’m having further conversations and learning even more new things!
Arabic presents some unique design challenges for UX, UI and copy, which meant we had to design for Arabic from the beginning, even though we were initially user testing with English-speaking audiences and launching our first MVP in LTR language markets.
Key challenges for interface design using Arabic
Directional flow & mirroring
The “rule everyone knows” (never assume) is that you simply flip or mirror the interface — job done! Er no, it’s a bit harder than that…
