glitter pile ai

For the internal RAG AI internal search engine project, our client is a global company with multilingual employees. After reviewing their recent job postings, I noted that English, French, and Arabic were the most common fluencies requested. This made me think about how one could incorporate elements or design considerations to reflect end users better, in this case, a global team of multi-lingual employees.

While I understand that English is the most common global business language, from our own experiences we know that just because something is the most common option doesn’t mean it’s the most preferred, or even most comfortable option.

I’ve been chatting with ChatGPT4o to create a list of considerations for more inclusive web design, which I think is a pretty decent start:

Top 10 DEI Considerations for a Web Designer Creating Global Websites

1. Multilingual Support:
   • Implement seamless language switching with content localized (not just translated) for each region, reflecting cultural nuances.
2. Accessibility Compliance:
   • Ensure the website meets global accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) for all users, including those with disabilities, across different languages.
3. Inclusive Imagery:
   • Use diverse and culturally relevant images that reflect the global audience, avoiding stereotypes and ensuring representation.
4. Culturally Sensitive Design:
   • Adapt design elements like color schemes, symbols, and layouts to align with cultural preferences while maintaining brand consistency.
5. Right-to-Left (RTL) Language Support:
   • Ensure proper display and functionality for RTL languages like Arabic, including text alignment and navigation.
6. User Experience Consistency:
   • Provide a consistent yet culturally adaptable user experience across regions, ensuring that all users feel equally valued.
7. Localized Content:
   • Create region-specific content that resonates with local audiences, considering cultural norms, holidays, and regional interests.
8. Inclusive Language:
   • Use neutral, gender-inclusive language across all versions of the website, ensuring it’s respectful and appropriate for each culture.
9. Diverse Input and Testing:
   • Involve diverse teams in the design and testing process to catch potential biases and ensure the site is welcoming to all users.
10. Data Privacy and Local Compliance:
    • Respect and adhere to local data privacy laws, ensuring transparency and trust, especially in regions with strict data protection regulations.

The Right-To-Left (RTL) consideration surprised me because I had never thought about that for web design, despite being a fan of Japanese manga which is in RTL format. Which just shows how easy it is for us to default to what we know/use most commonly.

I really enjoyed a recent YouTube video on the psychology of website design, specific to Japanese culture: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here’s why (youtube.com). Despite the click-bait title (the overused “here’s why” is forever cringe to me), it explores concepts like low vs. high context, the concept of simplicity and convenience across cultures, and “gentle” UX in an easy to understand and light-hearted way.

I know it can be hard to see (or even peek) outside of our own bubble of lived experiences and “world” views, but I do think it’s worth the effort to step out of our comfort zones when we can. For me, inclusivity in tech is at the center of everything I want to build with AI. So, I’m paying attention and learning as I go, challenging my assumptions and biases when they appear, especially those pesky subconscious ones…which require some mental unpacking/work.

This is all barely touching the language/inclusivity iceberg so if this has sparked your curiosity, below are two interesting, light reads about global languages:

• The 10 Most Spoken Languages In The World (babbel.com)
• Top 10 Most Spoken Languages in the Business World (gmsmobility.com)

Hopefully some part of this helps someone else out there thinking of these topics, too!