Best Practices for Translating UI/UX in Figma

Figma is a vector-based design tool that operates within a web browser, with a desktop app, making it accessible on any platform. It has become a central hub for design teams working together to create interfaces in real time. 

However, translating Figma content within it presents some unique challenges:

• Text Expansion
• Layout Issues
• No Built-In Translation Workflow
• Text as a Design Element

Luckily, Figma has a rich library of plugins that extend Figma’s functionality, enabling designers to automate tasks, enhance designs, and manage translations more effectively.

Best Practices for Figma Translation

• Utilize Plugins to automate Figma text translation: Figma’s plugin ecosystem offers several tools that can help streamline the translation process. SimulTrans has technology and processes that streamline Figma translation, not only through plugins,  to allow for easy text extraction and re-import, ensuring that translations can be managed more efficiently. 
• Collaborate with Localization Experts Early: Involve a localization team like SimulTrans early in the design process. This ensures that potential translation issues are identified before they become problematic and that the design is flexible enough to accommodate text variations across different languages.
• Use Frames and Constraints Thoughtfully: When designing in Figma, use frames and constraints to manage how text flows and resizes within the design. This approach allows for easier adjustments when the text expands or contracts after translation.
• Create a Translation-Friendly Design: Anticipate text expansion by leaving extra space in your design layouts. Avoid hard-coding text into images and use dynamic text fields where possible, making it easier to adjust the content post-translation.
• Review Translated Content: Once the content is translated and re-integrated into Figma, review the design to ensure everything fits well and maintains the original design intent. This step might involve making design tweaks to accommodate different text lengths or cultural differences.
• Test Localized App in Context: Often the actual UI does not 100% match the Figma layout, so In addition to reviewing the translated content after it has been re-integrated into Figma, we still recommend testing the software app itself before publishing.

Secure and Efficient Process 

Usually for Figma translation projects, our customers frequently provide SimulTrans with URLs to their Figma source for localization. Then a plugin connects to that file so SimulTrans can localize the text and deliver the file.

However, for security reasons, some of our clients do not allow plugins or widgets to be connected to their systems. If this is the case, then a workaround is necessary. 

SimulTrans can download a copy of the Figma  file, complete the translation project, and either import translations into Figma designs or deliver the following items:

• a localized Figma URL
• localized .fig
• localized screen outputs

Conclusion

When localizing Figma prototypes for global audiences, meticulous attention is needed to preserve the design's essence across languages while addressing text expansion, extended character sets, language-specific typefaces, and cultural preferences. Engaging a Figma localization expert like SimulTrans to localize Figma designs for international markets early on can save you time and money.

Book a free consultation with us today.