Developing a product that appeals to a global audience is not just an opportunity; it’s a necessity. For designers, developing a product for a global audience means creating visually appealing interfaces and ensuring that their designs can be localized and seamlessly adapted to different languages and regions. One modern, powerful tool that has become a must-have for design teams looking to quickly and efficiently optimize their localization process is Figma Multi-Language, a custom-built plugin that integrates with Figma, enabling seamless translation and localization into the design workflow
Figma is a popular vector-based online service that allows for collaborative interface design and prototyping. It operates in two formats: in the browser and as a client application on the user’s desktop. Figma stores online versions of the files the user has worked on. This online vector service has long been a favorite among designers for its capabilities, collaborative features, ease of use, and intuitive design tools. Figma continues to grow, and solutions like Figma Multi-Language are changing the way design teams manage multilingual content. This plugin provides a clear, seamless translation workflow right inside Figma, making it easy and simple to manage multiple projects that need localization for global markets:
- This plugin allows you to accurately and quickly localize user interfaces and translate a variety of marketing visuals;
- Using this solution, you can create multilingual user interfaces, collaborate productively with other teams on mobile apps or software localization, and quickly translate static visuals such as social media graphics, posters, blog visuals, and more.
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Why is multilingual support important for design projects?
Design teams use a variety of tools to create high-quality design solutions and productive work. Some design teams have fallen in love with the features of the time-tested Photoshop, others prefer narrowly focused solutions from Sketch, and others still choose Figma. This tool is rapidly becoming quite popular among web designers. Why is this so? As mentioned above, Figma, in terms of functionality, is a convenient graphic editor that provides the ability to develop high-quality prototypes of websites and mobile applications; this service provides the ability to create individual interface elements (icons, buttons, forms, and much more), vector images and illustrations. For projects to enter the international market, not only quality is important, but also accurate localization.
In the past, translating projects required manual processes, which often led to misunderstandings between design teams, development teams, and teams of employees working on localization projects. Designers would create initial mockups and then hand them off to translators. This approach could lead to errors, time delays, and inconsistencies between the design and the translated text.
With the Figma Multi-Language plugin, these problems are solved by creating an integrated environment in which teams of designers, translators, and developers can collaborate productively without any effort. By centralizing translation and localization tasks in Figma, the entire workflow becomes more efficient, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring consistency across languages.
How does Figma Multi-Language work?
Figma Multi-Language enables design teams to seamlessly integrate their Figma files with localization platforms like Crowdin https://store.crowdin.com/figma. In Crowdin, texts can be pre-translated using AI or machine translation engines. The integration allows text content in Figma designs — whether it’s UI text, buttons, or error messages — to be automatically synchronized with the translation platform. From there, translators can work directly on the platform, and the translated text is automatically updated in Figma. This integration between Figma and translation platforms streamlines the entire localization process.
Figma Multi-Language supports several important features designed to make the translation process easier. There is a feature that allows designers to export text strings into separate files that translators can work on independently of the design file. Once the translation is complete, the text strings can be re-imported into Figma, automatically updating the design.
Why Use the Figma Localization Plugin by Crowdin?
Traditional localization workflows often involve multiple steps, including transferring files between different teams. The Figma Localization Plugin significantly simplifies this entire process by integrating localization directly into the design workflow:
- The Figma Multi-Language Plugin helps solve these problems by providing real-time feedback on how the translated content will look in your design. This ensures that designers can make the necessary changes to maintain consistency across languages;
- By automating most of the translation process, the Figma Multi-Language plugin allows you to view projects and prototypes in multiple languages without developer skills. This saves time for designers and translators.
- The Figma localization plugin, developed by Crowdin, ensures that all translations are accurate and up-to-date, which in turn makes it easier for designers and developers to check the quality of translations before applying them to a project. With integrated verification tools, the system provides a more efficient feedback loop, which further improves the quality of the developed product;
- You get a faster time to market. Time to market is crucial to success for business environments and multiple companies operating in different regions.
Summary
The Figma localization plugin by Crowdin is an indispensable tool for design teams looking to create products that appeal to a global audience. It streamlines the translation and localization process, saving time, reducing errors, and ensuring consistency across multiple languages. Whether you’re developing a mobile app, website, or marketing materials, Figma Multi-Language helps you navigate the complexities of multilingual content, allowing you to launch your product into new markets faster and more efficiently.
