Language as Participation: Multilingual User Experience Design

In this research paper, we argue that designing communication for and with multilingual audiences requires a participatory approach to user experience (UX) design that uses language and translation activities to open up avenues for more inclusive participation. We contrast this approach to the extraction model of user experience that we see practiced in corporate settings. We propose a model for engaging multilingual audiences in design through the presentation of two design cases, one international and one local. In both cases, we articulate the specific challenges and opportunities for user experience design and methods when working with multilingual audiences. We conclude with a discussion of strategies for designing for and with multilingual audiences in user experience design.