Exploring Cross-Cultural Design: Bridging Gaps in Global Digital Experiences
Book introduction:
“Cross-Cultural Design” is written by Senongo Akpem. This book explores how to create culturally relevant and responsible experiences in website design to reach global audiences. It introduces the basic cultural aspects of globalization and encourages readers to engage with current diverse networks and develop a deeper understanding of the historical and linguistic aspects of globalization by elaborating on principles, research methods, and practical suggestions for cross-cultural design.
Reason for selection:
I chose this book because it deals with the topic of intercultural communication. As an international student, I share similar experiences and embarrassing moments with the author. As we explore life in countries where we speak different languages, it is often difficult to understand and adapt to logic and cultural expressions. Additionally, the speaker who shared her experience in the product/UI design field in the class caught my attention and made me wonder about the designer’s process of selecting elements and the stories behind them. So I’m looking forward to hearing what the author discovered on her design journey and truly understanding the process of creating a digital platform.
Important takeaways:
I adore the useful resources the author suggests to her readers. She found the United Nations icon pack and research websites, for instance, to be helpful. These suggestions could have been extremely useful in helping us design our ongoing projects.
User preferences can differ significantly depending on culture. Take taxonomy conventions, for instance, which make reference to the classification theory. Users’ perceptions and online browsing behaviors may be influenced by their categorization habits. Concepts like uncertainty avoidance and power distance all stem from those innate cultural dimensions. Users with varying cultural backgrounds will have varying expectations for the web experience, as well as varying degrees of knowledge and navigational options. As a result, it’s critical to comprehend and research your target audience’s past. In the detailed design of web pages, put people first and be people-oriented.
Be mindful of the details. Whether it’s font formatting, iconography, or text arrangement, design demands consistency and an openness to absorb new cultures. Although English is the primary language used on the website, as the author notes, only 20% of people on the planet are native English speakers. Therefore, in order to avoid offensive features and misunderstandings, it is imperative that web designers pay close attention to details. Gaining cultural intelligence can assist us in determining the right components to match our target audience. To make sure everything we put on the page has context and to prevent confusing websites, we should both localize and translate our content.
