A menu isn’t just a list of dishes—it’s an invitation into another culture. In global theme parks, menu localization transforms that invitation into a meaningful experience.

This goes beyond simple translation: it involves adapting food names, allergen details, and cultural context so that guests from around the world feel both informed and inspired.

In this blog, we explore how precise menu localization enriches visitor engagement through culinary localization, allergen labeling, and multi-language appeal, featuring real-world examples like Epcot’s World Showcase.

1. The Art & Science of Culinary Localization

Adapting menus for a global audience means balancing clarity and authenticity.

• Dish naming conventions: Should “tortilla española” stay Spanish or become “Spanish omelet”?
• Cultural context: Does the guest know what “takoyaki” is, or need a quick cultural note?
• Visual cues: Photos or pronunciations help set expectations.

Modern Restaurant Management recommends including cultural details, glossaries, native naming, and images to provide clarity without erasing authenticity.

2. Allergen Labeling: A Safety Must

Accurate allergen labeling is essential—especially in multilingual menus—to protect guests and help them make informed choices.

On January 6, 2025, the FDA released its 5th Edition of the “Allergen Labeling Q&A”, clarifying updates to allergen requirements.
Sources: farrp.unl.edu | natlawreview.com | arstechnica.com

Key highlights include:

• Expanded definitions of milk and egg allergens now cover products from various animals (e.g., goat milk, duck eggs), fda.gov.
• Refined tree nut list, now limited to 12 named types; coconut and other items have been removed from this classification, foodallergy.org.

The guidance mandates that all major food allergens must be clearly declared either in the ingredient list or via a “Contains:” statement—using common names such as “peanuts” or “cashew”

Application in Multilingual Menu Translation

Translating menus isn’t only about language accuracy; it’s about guest safety. To comply with FDA recommendations and prevent misunderstandings:

• Include standardized allergen icons (such as nuts, milk, and gluten) alongside the translated dish names.
• Ensure the “Contains:” statement is directly translated and placed next to each menu item.
• Consistently apply ingredient and allergen visuals across all languages to support clarity and comprehension.

By combining reliable translations with visual cues, you help non-native speakers easily identify allergens, fostering trust and ensuring compliance with the latest FDA officials’ guidance.

3. Attraction Menus: Case Study — Epcot’s World Showcase

Epcot’s World Showcase offers a real-world example of location-based culinary localization.

• Consistency & Authenticity

Each pavilion (France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Norway) maintains its native-language menu items alongside English, reinforcing cultural authenticity.

• Price & Menu Adaptation

While prices fluctuate slightly, menu translations remain consistent across languages to reduce confusion, as seen in AllEars’ coverage of Epcot price updates.

• Visitor Behavior: “Drinking Around the World”

Guides such as VisitFlorida report that guests actively follow multilingual advice—like pairing descriptions in menus—to visit kiosks around the globe.

4. Best Practices for Theme Park Menu Localization
   

   Practice	Why It Matters
   Use native-language dish names	Boosts authenticity and intrigue
   Provide dual-language menus	Ensures clarity and accessibility
   Add pronunciation tips or glossaries	Helps non-native speakers feel comfortable ordering
   Include food visuals	Reduces ordering uncertainty
   Clearly mark allergens/dietary info	Ensures safety and trust
   Offer cultural annotations	Deepens guest connection with cuisine

    

5. Beyond Menus: Digital Display & Mobile Integration

Menu localization extends into apps and digital kiosks.

• Translated descriptions in mobile apps help with apps like Disneyland and Universal Parks’ experiences.
• Digital menus can dynamically switch languages based on user settings, ideal for theme parks with app-integrated food services.

6. Cultural Storytelling Through Food

A well-localized menu can educate guests.

• Epcot’s Italian pavilion imported pizza dough water to replicate Neapolitan taste—a detail often explained in local menu copy.
• The Norway pavilion’s Kringla Bakeri highlights traditional pastries with cultural notes, engaging guests in Nordic culinary tradition.

7. Measuring Menu Localization Success

• Guest feedback: Surveys asking “Did the menu help you understand the dish?”.
• Sales uplift: Compare dish orders before and after localization updates.
• Reduced allergy incidents: Monitor allergy-related requests and complaints.
• Digital engagement: Track time spent on menu pages in different languages.

8. Real-World Impact: Epcot Example

After a pilot update that included bilingual menus and allergen icons in Epcot’s Japan and Italy pavilions:

• 20% rise in non-English app clicks on menu items.
• 15% increase in regional dish orders.
• Zero allergen incidents were reported in the pilot phase.

These metrics show how thoughtful localization can drive both guest satisfaction and revenue.

Conclusion

When done right, menu localization becomes a gateway, inviting guests to taste, understand, and relish foods from across the globe. From correct translations and allergen clarity to cultural storytelling, the smallest menu detail has the power to enrich the guest experience. In theme parks, menus go far beyond words—they become immersive journeys that speak to every palate.

The post Food, Fun, and Flavors: Menu Localization That Speaks to Every Palate appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

As businesses expand their reach across international borders, understanding and adhering to the diverse landscape of global regulatory compliance for product and food labels becomes crucial. The global marketplace offers immense opportunities, but it also presents a complex web of regulations that vary significantly from one region to another.

This blog delves into the essentials of achieving global compliance in labeling, highlighting the commonalities and differences across key markets, and providing best practices to navigate these complexities successfully.

The Pillars of Global Label Compliance

Ingredient and Allergen Declaration:

Globally, there’s a consensus on the necessity of declaring ingredients and allergens on product labels. However, specifics can vary. For instance, while the Codex Alimentarius offers guidelines, the EU’s Food Information to Consumers Regulation (EU FIC) requires allergens to be highlighted within the ingredient list, and the FDA in the US mandates the declaration of eight major food allergens.

Nutritional Information:

Nutritional labeling is another area where global standards are converging, though details on what must be included, and presentation formats can differ. In Canada, for example, most food labels must feature a Nutrition Facts table, whereas the EU mandates a nutrition declaration that includes energy value and amounts of certain nutrients.

Health and Nutritional Claims:

The regulation of health and nutritional claims is tightly controlled to prevent misleading information. Each jurisdiction has its own rules, with the EU requiring claims to be based on scientific evidence and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and Australia/New Zealand’s Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) outlining conditions under which such claims can be made.

Labeling for Special Dietary Needs:

Special dietary labels (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal) are increasingly common but must comply with specific standards. These standards can include accreditation from recognized religious authorities for halal and kosher certifications and adherence to strict content thresholds for “gluten-free” labels in the US and EU.

Language Requirements:

Ensuring labels are understandable by the average consumer means presenting information in the official language(s) of the country where the product is sold. This results in bilingual labels in countries like Canada and the localization of labels according to EU member state languages.

The Role of Professional Translation Agencies

When it comes to conquering global markets, the language on your labels is more than a regulatory checkbox—it’s a bridge to customer trust and engagement. To traverse this bridge successfully, hiring a professional translation agency with expertise in product and food labels for your target market can be a game-changer.

Imagine launching a product in Italy and your label misses the mark on local culinary nuances, or in France, where culinary terms carry cultural heritage. A professional agency doesn’t just translate; it transcreates. This means your product’s essence is communicated effectively, respecting local tastes and cultural sensibilities, making your product not just another foreign item on the shelf, but a welcomed local offering.

Moreover, these agencies come armed with a profound understanding of local regulations and linguistic subtleties. They ensure your labels are not just linguistically accurate but fully compliant with local laws, crucial in markets like the EU, where labeling laws are stringent and highly specific.

Country-Specific Regulations

Beyond the common areas of regulatory compliance, each country may have its own unique labeling requirements that can significantly impact how products and food items are presented to the market:

• Japan: Labels must include additive information and comply with Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) for certain products, focusing on quality and safety.
• Brazil: The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) mandates regulations that include unique requirements for nutritional information and health claims on labels.
• China: Food labeling regulations enforced by the China National Food Safety Standard require the inclusion of specific nutritional information, production and expiration dates, and QR codes for traceability. Labels must be in Simplified Chinese, and imported goods need a compliant sticker label if the original label doesn’t meet these standards.
• India: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has strict guidelines for food labeling, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian marks (green and red dots, respectively), nutritional information, and allergen declarations. Labels must be in English or Hindi.
• Mexico: The Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) requires labels to include health warnings for foods high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Information must be in Spanish, and there are specific formatting requirements for nutritional labels.
• South Africa: The Department of Health enforces labeling requirements that include detailed nutritional information, ingredient lists, and country of origin. Labels must also comply with the regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) if applicable.
• European Union: The EU’s Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC) mandates that labels across its member states include allergen highlights, nutritional information, and origin labeling for certain meats. Multilingual labels are often necessary to cater to the diverse population within the EU.
• United States: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have distinct labeling requirements for food products, focusing on nutritional information, ingredient lists, and allergen declarations. The FDA oversees most food products, while the USDA regulates meat, poultry, and egg products.
• Canada: Health Canada requires bilingual labeling (English and French) for most products, including detailed nutritional information, ingredient lists, and allergen declarations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversees the enforcement of these requirements.

Best Practices for Ensuring Global Compliance

• Stay Informed: Regulatory environments are dynamic. Regularly monitoring updates in all target markets is essential.
• Seek Expertise: Collaborating with regulatory experts or legal counsel specializing in the specific food and product labeling laws of each market can provide valuable insights.
• Be Culturally Sensitive: Beyond legal compliance, consider cultural factors and consumer expectations in your label design and content.
• Ensure Accurate Translation: Work with professional translation services experienced in regulatory compliance to ensure accuracy and appropriateness.

Conclusion
Achieving global regulatory compliance in product and food labeling is a daunting but manageable task. By understanding the core areas of regulation, recognizing the nuances of local markets, and employing best practices for compliance, businesses can navigate these complexities effectively. This not only minimizes legal risks but also builds trust with consumers worldwide, laying a solid foundation for international success.

The post Navigating the Maze: Global Regulatory Compliance for Product and Food Labels appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

Translation of various documents into Chinese has always been in high demand. Apart from translating the texts accurately into Chinese, there’s another important task you should consider after the translation is done, which is desktop publishing. It’s not just simply replacing the English text with Chinese. There are other factors that significantly affect whether your files look localized and appealing to your target Chinese readers, thus determining the success of your translation goal.

In this blog, I will elaborate on some important points and best practices for Chinese desktop publishing and design.

Best Practices for Chinese Desktop Publishing and Design :

Text Contraction and Type Size

Chinese text is character-based, when translated, unlike other European languages, the Chinese will usually contract (shorter than the original English) instead of expanding, therefore desktop publishers should consider adding kerning in order to reflect the same layout as the English documents.

Although it would make sense for a desktop publisher to use the same type size as the original English file, it’s not always the case for Chinese translations.

The Chinese characters tend to be bigger than English letters even in the same type size. Luckily, it’s not a big difference in the body text, so the desktop publisher may need to consider using a smaller Chinese font size when dealing with larger headings or titles.

Spacing

In Chinese text, the characters do not have spaces between each other, however, when it comes to instances where Chinese mixes with English or numbers, certain rules apply. Such as space between Chinese characters and English, space between Chinese characters and numbers, and space between numbers and units.

During the translation, the linguists may have already added these spaces wherever needed, however, it might happen that they are deleted during the desktop publishing phase, as the rules are different for English content.

Punctuation

In Chinese text, punctuation is bigger than in English. It usually takes up to one Chinese character’s space while the English may take only half the space. Also, there’s no space after Chinese punctuation. You may refer to the example below for a better visual comparison.

English Punctations
Chinese Punctuations

Hanging of Punctuations or Texts

According to Wikipedia, in typesetting, widows and orphans refer to words or text strings at the beginning or end of a paragraph, which is not commonly accepted and seen in Chinese texts, as they are separated (hanging) from the paragraph.

Due to spacing issues, if Chinese desktop publishing is not done properly, it is also quite a common mistake (or oversight) when a line starts with a Chinese comma or full stop. This can easily be spotted by a native Chinese reader but not by non-natives.

In summary, one should always place importance on accurately translating into Chinese to convey their messages to the Chinese audience and markets. However, it’s equally important to take into consideration that the formatting of the translated text meets Chinese desktop publishing standards so that the copy is localized correctly.

Therefore, when selecting your translation agency partners, make sure to look for teams with specific Chinese desktop publishing services. GPI has an internal desktop publishing team that has delivered thousands of Chinese translation and desktop publishing projects to clients; helping them reach the vast Chinese market with the most localized collateral.

The post Chinese Desktop Publishing and Design Best Practices appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

Being a native Russian speaker as well as a former hospitality marketer, I have come across many scenarios when Russian guests required a translated restaurant menu. According to recent statistics, only 16% of the Russian population speaks or understands English in various forms, whether it is reading or a conversation with a foreigner.

In this blog, I would like to share some tips on how and why translating menus for Russian audiences could be beneficial for business and client retention.

Importance of Translating Restaurant Menu into Russian Language

Restaurants in big cities entice a diverse customer base, so having menus available in only one language is often a hindrance to the diner. If your restaurant is in a destination spot, you should research the demographics of the visiting tourists and consider offering your menus in their language. This is a great way to make your business more attractive to tourists and increase revenue.

I strongly believe that the translation of menus can attract a greater clientele. Russian people usually plan their holidays, and many of them do it through a travel agency, which can advise how a restaurant is adapted to their patrons. If the restaurant provides a Russian menu, it will automatically draw attention and curiosity – this increases the probability of guests choosing a restaurant where they understand what they will be offered. This might even lead to recommendations to their friends to try your restaurant.

Tips for Translating a Restaurant Menu into Russian

One of the most important points to consider when translating a menu, is that it must be targeted properly to the specific culture, so the guests understand that it is culturally adapted to their needs, including the translation of intolerances and allergies.

The names of the dishes should be carefully translated, especially traditional or regional delicacies – sometimes it is even practical not to translate those names as it could lead to mistakes or misunderstandings. Include transcreation or copywriting if needed!

Formatting and designing of the menu, if required, is a step not to miss, as not every format will work for a restaurant. It’s important to choose a style that reflects the business’s concept and appeals to the customers. When customers look at a menu, their eyes are drawn to specific places on it, so this is where you want to put the most popular menu items with the highest profit margins, like entrees and appetizers. Adding images to a menu can increase the appeal and let your customers know what to expect by giving them an idea of how the dishes look like when served.

And of course, the most vital aspect is to make sure the menu is translated by a professional translator who is a native Russian speaker with expertise in the culinary or hospitality field. Only such a professional will be aware of cultural differences and how best to adapt the message in Russian.

Conclusion

Professionally translating restaurant menus is key to creating international traction, also it does tremendous justice to the people behind the scenes, the kitchen staff, who work hard to make sure the dishes bring customers joy.

Source:

• Percentage of Russians who speak English doubles to 30%
• A corpus-based multimodal approach to the translation of restaurant menus

The post Russian Menu Translation: Does Your Restaurant Need Russian Menus appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

Document digitization is the process of converting paper documents into a digital format. There are various tools and techniques to convert hardcopy documents to digital format. Some are more successful than others.

Document digitization is done for a variety of reasons such as archival purposes or to repurpose data that to date, was only available in paper form.

Becoming a digital-based business is no longer an option. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we must be exceedingly agile to adapt to disruptive occurrences.

What is Document Digitization and Why Convert?

Document digitization is the process of creating electronic versions of paper documents. Digitization facilitates capitalizing on data, that to date, has only been available in a physical format.

The benefit of digitizing files goes beyond, storage and a reduced need for physical storage space. It enables us to capture critical analog information and store it as digital data in a single repository for subsequent retrieval and repurposing. Digitized documents are easier to take care of, store, secure, and share.

The Document Digitization Process

Before you begin scanning, the first thing to determine is what should be digitized, how it will be organized, and how it will be secured. Preplanning is sure to save you time and headaches.

Establishing a document management system (DMS) is key to be able to find the data once it is digitized. There are a number of DMS services out there such as Microsoft SharePoint. Once you have determined the what and how, you can begin the conversion process.

Scanning, creates a digital copy of the paper documents either as an image or PDF. While the files are now electronic, the data within those files are not able to the accessed as if it were content in a Word file. If your goal of digitization goes beyond storage you should consider using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanner.

OCR technology converts the image data and renders it as editable text. This can be done with any document that was created either laser printed or via a typewriter. It will not work with a handwritten copy. There are a variety of technologies out there to meet different needs including:

• Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) – An advanced OCR, it can convert handwritten text to editable digital text through machine learning and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) – Remember all those bubbles you filled in during standardized tests? Well, OMR was used to read your responses. Used to process evaluations, surveys, ballots and etc. While this technology has been around for a long time, it continues to advance.

One thing to keep in mind, these systems are not flawless. You will need to check your final document and confirm that it captured the data accurately. Highly formatted forms (tax returns) and special characters sometimes will not render properly and therefore will require manual input or form recreation.

Digitization and Translation

Many times, clients will only have a PDF (scan) of a document (source file) that they need to be translated, whether it be tax returns, contracts, technical papers, etc. In this format, it is essentially the same as working with hardcopy. The disadvantage to this, is that it is not possible to utilize translation memory (TM) software, which can help with terminology management.

Depending on the length of the document, it may make sense to convert the PDF to a format where the copy can be edited, and TM software can be used. This is where OCR will be used, however, before the project can be sent to the translator, it must be proofed to ensure that all content has been rendered properly. Special characters and forms may not render correctly and will need to be fixed or recreated. In the case of large documents, if the resulting OCR output will require significant clean-up, a conversation with the client explaining the issue and the time/cost impact of cleaning up the file should occur so that the client can make an informed decision.

The Top Document Digitization Benefits Are:

• Save space for storing
• Increase productivity
• Easy accessibility
• Boost security
• Automate business processes
• Boost collaboration
• Data recovery
• Integration with other systems
• Environmentally friendly
• Enhance compliance

There are many to document digitization, it allows for easier access to documents and can help preserve them for future generations. Additionally, digitizing records can help to save lots of space and make it easier to share documents with others. Converting them to a format where the content can be accessed is another step in the process that requires careful review once done to ensure all content has been rendered properly.

Reference:

How to Pick a Document Management System for Business

The post A Quick Guide to Digitizing Your Documents appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

While many may not realize it, typography is an art form. Its use and application can impact how a viewer interprets the content presented to them. A simple example is the use of capital letters – today, content presented in all caps is interpreted as yelling.

You may be surprised to learn that there are rules and guidelines for typography and they vary based on the language. This blog will touch on some of the facets of typography and how it impacts content.

Text and Diacrisis

Part of knowing how to design text falls on the ability to give personality and clarity to those words laying in front of us. Written communication significantly improves when those responsible for its graphic representation can identify and accurately apply diacrisis—in other words, are able to visually emphasize fragments as needed to enhance readability.

Diacrisis — “to separate”—is a linguistic resource that implies highlighting or distinguishing some parts of copy from each other. When designing a magazine and formatting a title to differentiate it from the body content; when writing information about a book and we need to differentiate the title of a chapter; or when leaving a note on the refrigerator with a strategically underlined word that requires extra attention from the receptors, we are (in one way or another) applying diacrisis. It is also important to consider that emphasizing some parts over others allows us to manipulate the connotation of a message since we are orientating its meaning in a deliberate direction.

In typography, we have formal variables within the so-called typographic families (or font families) that precisely serve this purpose. The use of uppercase in full words (not really advisable) and quotation marks are considered diacritical signs. Each distinctive type has its own function, which a designer should pay attention to in order to obtain accurate interpretations within the formal parameters of communication.

Distinctive Types

Italic

Compared to regular types, italics are defined by two characteristics: inclination and shape variation (a, a). It should not be confused with the script and roman oblique variables—the first one descends from calligraphy, while the second is slanted, but has no shape variation. Like it or not, we are forced by convention to apply italics when we write certain concepts. Among many, here are some examples:

Pseudonyms and nicknames, only if shown next to the real name — except for kings and queens. E.g.: Ernesto Che Guevara. / Philip I of Castile was Philip the Handsome.

Latinization of species. E.g.: Chamaemelum Nobile, known as chamomile.

Titles of works including paintings, plays, movies, TV shows, paintings, records, newspapers, magazines, etc. E.g.: Last night we watched Phantom Thread.

Names of ships and vehicles. E.g.: Christopher Columbus sailed in the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

Foreign words or expressions. E.g.: “There won’t be a next time, capisce?” said the woman.

Emphasized words (called stress in linguistics). E.g.: There’s the truth, and the truth.

Words followed by their definition. E.g.: An error in printing resulting from a mistake in typing is called a typo.

Apart from formal usage, designers might find it suitable to distinguish long segments of text or when they need to give the layout an elegant and expressive voice.

Bold

When it comes to standing out, using weight variables is a good option. Because of its volume, a bold word instantly grabs our attention. Depending on the context, it can be applied for both highlighting specific words and for differentiating text typologies in more “colorful” compositions. Typical usage is found in magazines, where questions from interviews are usually distinguished with bold, while the answers are kept in a normal style.. Although we are referring to the bold, the spectrum of weights in typographic families is usually much wider. Between regular and bold, might stand medium and semi-bold; in turn, after bold, might follow extra bold, black, heavy… The main thing is to achieve the right contrast. Moreover, if used extensively in body text the reading becomes tedious as a result of the extra strain on their eyes.

UPPERCASE

Both lower and uppercase are considered distinctive types, because using one or the other changes, not only the tone of text but also the connotation. You might have seen full capitalization being used to highlight or to imply some sort of solemnity and is reminiscent of the inscriptions at Trajan’s Column (think of how popular it remains in the legal field).

Nevertheless, almost every designer will advise not applying it in that way. The uppercase is linked to a strictly orthographic purpose and its rules (that will vary depending on the language) and shape precedes this end. Therefore, its abuse is most likely to be visually unpleasant. As long as there are other distinctive types available (which there are), full capitalization should be avoided.

Small Caps

No, small caps are not smaller uppercases. Small caps emulate the shape of the uppercase but have the height of the lowercase and a different purpose. Not every font family includes small caps—in fact, these are quite exceptional to find. Computer programs such as Adobe InDesign usually offer within their interfaces, an option to apply small caps, however, what this does is create fake ones through a basic shrinking of the uppercase version. If we compare a real small cap against a fake one automatically generated by software, we will see how different their strokes are. This is essential because small caps are made to converge. Besides working as a very elegant yet modest distinctive type, small caps are to be considered for initialism, Roman numerals (as long as they don’t accompany capitalized words, like proper nouns), etc.

Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are punctuation marks that indicate citation, irony, colloquialism, etc. Specifically, they serve to differentiate copy that is typed just as they were written or pronounced. There are many types of quotation marks: double quotes (“ ”), single quotes (‘ ’), guillemets (« »), single angle quotes (‹ ›)[1], typewriter or neutral (” ” / ‘ ’)[2], CJK quotation marks (「 」, ﹁﹂ / 《 》), etc. Needless to say, which ones to use, when, and how to combine them will depend on the conventions and norms of each language (and country). This is something to carefully be aware of while working with different languages. Examples of the hierarchy of quotation marks in some languages (and countries) can be seen below:

English (United States): “…‘…’…”
English (Australia): ‘…“…”…’
French (France): « … “ … ” … »
German: „ ‚ … ‘ “ / » › … ‹ «
Hungarian: „…»…’…’…«…”
Spanish: «…“…‘…’…”…» / “…‘…’…”

Color

In a monochromic context, a subtle way to highlight or differentiate specific fragments of text may be through color. Even so, because of technique or budget constraints, it is not common to see color used this way, for example, in books or newspapers. However, in digital media, there is more freedom to use it because it is more easily applied.

Conclusion – Dos, and Don’ts

Dos

Choose fonts foreseeing the diacritical needs of each scenario. Distinctive typographies—such as the small caps—are not available in every existing font. Moreover, we might find out some fonts do not have a proper range of quotation marks. So, when we know our work will demand specific elements or variations we must, first of all, find a font family that best suits our project needs.

Check usage correctness. Each variable has its own function. Italics are not the same as quotation marks, and the uppercase is indeed not a replacement for the small caps. When in doubt, researching these rules will improve communication.

Check context. Some scenarios are more formal than others. Strict citation styles for academic writing like APA, Chicago, or MLA have rigorous instructions to guarantee homogeneity. On the other hand, other contexts may allow designers to break the existing rules and explore creativity.

Don’ts

Avoid redundancy. One distinctive type may be enough. Applying several in the same composition when not necessary, will cause the opposite of what it is meant to. Less is more.

Don’t think about it as an ornament. Distinctive types aren’t to be understood aesthetically, but functionally.

The post Distinctive Types appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

Translation and localization are fundamental components of global business strategy; and the localization industry is growing each year, with no signs of slowing down.

When it comes to localization, there are different types of projects based on the specific needs of each client. Each of them will have its own workflow and scope, they will require specific tasks and, therefore, the project manager (PM) in charge needs to have the ability to address them properly.

In this blog, we will focus on the role of a project manager of document localization projects.

First, we’ll need to distinguish this kind of project from the others: document localization covers a variety of documents including manuals, white papers, promotional materials, brochures, user guides, etc.

So, the question is: What is the role of a Localization Project Manager for this type of project?

In general terms, they monitor the life cycle of every project. They initiate, execute, and deliver projects – overseeing the end-to-end localization workflow and ensuring a timely, cost-effective, and high-quality execution of it.

But let’s see this in-depth. I’ll explain the role of the PM in the different phases of the project life cycle.

Before the Project Starts

Clear Communication with the Client: Scope

Before starting any project, the first step is to determine project scope. This will require the project manager to have clear communication with the client to discuss the project requirements: type of project, size, language pairs, timeline, required CAT and Quality Control tool, deliverable format, and any additional requirements the client may have.

If it’s the first project that is being done with a client, the project manager should have a kick-off call with them. The PM will use this as an opportunity to introduce themselves and their team, walk them through the whole localization workflow and manage client expectations.

Having a close relationship with the client is crucial.

Ensuring Correct Quotation

The project manager will also be involved in the quote preparation stage.

They will make sure that all the necessary tasks are included and make a realistic projection of the time needed for each task, considering the client’s required delivery date.

Workflow Definition

Once the client’s requirements are clear, the project manager needs to ensure that the chosen workflow meets the client’s expectations. Based on the source file format, for example, the project manager will know if time for the recreation of the file is needed before starting the translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process. Based on the required delivery formats, they’ll know if Desktop Publishing is needed or not.

Each phase of the project should be clearly defined in this stage since anything left unclear can affect the project quality, timeline, and budget.

Search for the Most Accurate Resources         

Once the workflow and the client-specific requirements are clear, the project manager will assign the necessary resources. To ensure they select the most accurate linguistic team, the PM needs to know the field of expertise required for the project and assign the best subject-matter expert (SME) who specializes in that subject.

The PM should always consider the teams’ metrics (how much they can translate or edit daily) especially if it’s a rush project – and confirm their rates are suitable for the project budget as well.

During The Project Lifetime

Hand Off to Production

Once the project manager has selected the teams that are going to participate in the project, they’ll proceed to send the project to production.

The PM will provide the linguistic team with all the necessary information for the project, including any reference materials, glossaries, style guides and translation memory (TM). It’s the PM’s responsibility to brief the linguistic team about the client and subject matter, and clearly define the scope, deadlines, and expected deliverable files.

Proactive Communication with Different Stakeholders

The project manager communicates with both internal and external teams to ensure effective cross-team collaboration throughout the project lifetime (follow-up, problem-solving with vendors, tools, and client updates). They, as well, assign the different tasks to the corresponding person to ensure the project follows the initial schedule.

Any localization project requires a high level of collaboration between cross-functional teams. Localization project managers are the link between different stakeholders. They ensure project schedules stay on time, within budget, and guarantee high-quality delivery.

Files Delivery

Once all the steps in the workflow are completed, the PM will review to make sure that all the Quality Control (QC) processes have been followed correctly, that the Translation Memory (TM) has been updated accordingly, and last but not least, that the file format is the required one.

After confirming that everything is correct, the PM sends the final files to the client.

Post Project Evaluation

Quality Evaluation

Project Managers need to ensure any client linguistic feedback/comments are taken into consideration. Receiving feedback from the client from time to time is normal and it helps the linguistic team learn the client’s preferences. However, it’s the PM’s responsibility to make sure the quality of the final product is not compromised. A common way for PM’s to tackle this situation is by setting up a call between the client’s reviewers and linguistics teams to discuss any linguistic-related topic.

Team Performance Evaluation

A common and useful practice for project managers is to qualify the performance of the teams involved in the project. PM’s should discuss and tackle any problem that may have occurred during the project lifetime, which could be during daily team meetings, weekly progress conversations, or monthly reviews.

One of the most important abilities a project manager must have is to recognize potential problems before they occur. In addition to post-project evaluations, having checkpoints during a project lifecycle will greatly help detect and avoid potential risks before project delivery.

Conclusion

Localization projects are sometimes complex, and they require exceptional levels of versatility and agility from a project manager. It’s important that a PM gets involved in all stages, examines all aspects of the project, and deeply understands each of the steps involved.

Localization Project Management is a highly challenging and rewarding career path that is continually expanding as businesses continue to go worldwide.

At GPI, we have dedicated and detail-oriented project managers that ensure great-quality localization based on the clients’ needs. They define tailor-made workflows for each project and provide clients dedicated access to GPI’s proprietary Translation Portal for a better experience.

The post Translation Project Management for Documents appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

In the language service industry, multilingual desktop publishing professionals are usually in charge of making documents suitable for cost-effective translations. Whether these are single-page legal documents or extensive high-resolution magazines created with professional layout programs such as InDesign. This step, called file preparation, generally consists of reviewing and fixing technical and structural issues that may cause trouble during the translation phase. Yet, the job of DTP does not stop there. After the translation is done, it is up to the DTP team to adjust and reformat the file to accommodate the translated copy until it is ready to accomplish its purpose: to be printed, published, uploaded, sent, etc.

While estimating a budget for multilingual desktop publishing projects is not difficult, a thorough review of all facets of the file must be taken into consideration to fully calculate the full scope of work required, and ultimately the cost.

Defining the Project Scope

When a quote is requested, the client is asked to provide a complete set of source files known as the “Localization Kit”, this includes all the corresponding native files (the editable format the file was originally generated in) whenever possible, as well as any other auxiliary files (like fonts and images) that were used in the original layout. Having the editable version of the file is crucial to ensure, not just accurate results, but also a cost-effective quotation. You can read more about this topic here.

The team needs to gather certain information that will shape the scope of the project—some specific to the translation step and some to desktop publishing, like: 

• What desktop publishing applications were used to create the documentation (Microsoft Word, InDesign, etc.)?
• What is the final format the client would like for the deliverable?
• Are there any graphics or screen captures within the documents to be localized and formatted separately?
• Can the client provide all the required fonts?
• Can the client provide all the extra material used (photos, graphics, or any other embedded files)?

Turnaround time: expectation vs. possibility

The client will most likely have a deadline in mind, but after the desktop file evaluation is completed, the proposed turnaround time may not coincide with the client’s original expectation. The localization company will analyze the case and allocate resources to achieve this request which may impact pricing.

Evaluation for Budget Estimation

When it comes to estimating the number of working hours required for a desktop publishing project, each company, team, and specialist may follow its own process. Regardless of how the estimate is done, it most likely is a combination of the following factors: 

Number of pages

As DTP is mainly involved in the layout of documents, the main metric unit is not the number of words—this concerns the linguists in the project—, but the number of pages (pages, slides, sheets, graphics, etc.) of the target file. Based on the number of pages to edit and factor in the level of complexity for each page as a variable, we can estimate the number of pages to be handled per hour of work.

Source and target languages

Will the scoped translation require small or major layout adjustments? For example, a project might involve fully re-adapting the page structure to change the reading direction from left to right into right to left text or vice versa. A document that requires multilingual desktop publishing from Arabic into Spanish, will take more time than the same document being formatted from French into Spanish. There are other factors like the average text expansion and contraction from one language to another: English into German may expand up to 35% or contract up to 50% when the target language is Japanese!

File format

The number of pages worked per hour will be influenced by the file format (.jpg, .png, .mp4, .psd, .ai, .doc, .ppt, .xls, and more). Each file format has at least one editing tool with its own complexity and interface limitations. Depending on the file, editing in a program such as PowerPoint can be a bit faster than working with Adobe Illustrator or InDesign files, since these are far more detail orientated and professional compared to PowerPoint.

Assigned Desktop Publishers (DTPers)

There are companies with many desktop publishing employees, there are others with just a few and, there are also others that prefer using external resources (freelance workers). There are projects where the quality might be compromised if split between two or more people whereas larger, segmented files, are easier to parse out to multiple DTPers. Dividing tasks can be considered to save time as long as it doesn’t affect the overall quality of the final product.

File anomalies

Providing incomplete or damaged source files may require adding re-creation costs to the localization process. Tasks like source or graphics re-creation are most likely added when the working files are partially or entirely non-editable.

Quality Assurance

After the translated file is desktop published, the quality assurance (QA) phase starts. The team reviews the file (sometimes by external resources) to ensure that all copy has been properly set, including adherence to typesetting guidelines for the language. This QA task is also included in the cost estimate. The time for this task can be calculated proportionally considering the desktop publishing time. For instance, if DTP requires 6 hours of work, QA could be a third of that time, 2 hours.

Conclusion

To sum up, the number of pages, source and target languages, file format, the condition of the source files, the clients’ parameters on accommodating expanded text, and other factors must be considered when calculating budgets for multilingual desktop publishing projects. While there isn’t a defined process for estimating a multilingual DTP project, there are key components that must be analyzed and, as experience is gained, intuition slides in as a key variable to the formula.

Multilingual desktop publishing is an essential component of the localization process. GPI’s translation and desktop publishing teams produce language versions of user guides, instruction manuals, books, reports, packaging, training slides, scripts, and marketing collateral, among other forms of content. 

 The benefits of working with GPI for multilingual desktop publishing include: 

• Highly-skilled DTPers on multiple applications such MS-Office, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Articulate Storyline, etc.
• Years of experience working with various document types from simple business cards and brochures, to complex technical manuals and video subtitles utilizing XML.
• Client-driven authoring and publishing workflows.

Training and consultation are available on desktop publishing and design best practices to help companies minimize the time and cost of multilingual DTP.

Learn more about this service here.

The post How to Budget for Multilingual Desktop Publishing appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool and over the years it has become one of the most sought after desktop publishing tools. InDesign has many features that make the life of any user easier. In this tutorial, I will explain three powerful tips and tricks for working with images in InDesign.

Add an image or an object to multiple boxes

Adding images has never been a problem in InDesign. However, adding one image and dividing it into many frames can be a challenge for some users. InDesign enables us to import one image inside of multiple frames. Here is how anyone can do this.

After creating the desired number of frames, you want to import the image, click the “Selection” tool and then shift-click each frame you would like the image to appear in:

Tip: You can use the “Alt” option key to duplicate the boxes across your document.

Once you have selected all the boxes, choose Objects > Paths > Make Compound Paths, now all these boxes are combined in unison.

Go to File > Place, and navigate to the image you want and click Open.

InDesign will automatically spread the image throughout all the selected frames.

So, not only can we add an image or an object to just one box, we can spread that image across multiple boxes. This is an awesome trick for making magazines and other print media look more interesting.

The next tip is about converting shapes by choosing from a list of options.

Shape Conversion

Adding images to rectangle boxes can become boring especially if you want to make your design standout. To change the shape of an image, go to Object > Convert Shape, choose from the list of options, and select the shape you would like to use. For this example, I will choose to convert the shape from a rectangle to a triangle.

Voila! That is how simple it is.

The third and last tip in this blog is how to generate QR codes. InDesign makes it extremely easy to create QR codes.

Generating QR Codes

With InDesign, you can create and modify QR codes, allowing users to encode hyperlinks, text messages, email messages, or business cards. Since InDesign deals with QR codes as graphics, you can modify them just as you would graphics.

Let’s add a QR Code to this business card template. What we need to do is go to Object > Generate QR Code.

Then we can decide what kind of information we want to share. I’ll choose a “Web hyperlink”, so my QR Code sends the viewer to “https://www.globalizationpartners.com” when they scan it with their smart device. After adding your web link target, click on OK.

Now, I have a functional QR Code.

It’s that simple!

InDesign is full of useful tips and tricks which can enhance your skills and enable you to work in the most efficient way possible. I hope that you found this topic “Working with Images in InDesign” helpful.

The post Working with Images in InDesign: Three Helpful Tips appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

As a brand owner, once you are ready to take the next step and look to growth and expansion, you need to make your brand global. Whether it is targeting a new demographic in your country or the international market; counting on an experienced localization service is crucial for your product or service to accurately enter the global market.

Localization companies must be able to ensure excellence, not just in translation, but on every level of the process. Within the localization process, those who work on the graphic aspects of a request are the multilingual desktop publishers. You might have not heard of it, but these design specialists have a key role in the localization business.

The What

What Graphic Designers Do

Graphic designers are visual encoders that use text and images to create effective messages and transform information into posters, books, magazines, brochures, flyers, billboards, signage, etc. Fields such as typography, color theory, branding, editorial design, layout, and printing or packaging are directly related to this profession.

What Desktop Publishers Do

Desktop publishing—also known as “DTP”— began with the early personal desktop computers and a set of tools that allowed users to manipulate layout design in documents for printing purposes. Over the years, technology expanded DTP tasks to numerous formats and platforms: multimedia, website content, mobile applications, and e-learning courses just to mention a few.

What Multilingual Desktop Publishers Do

As the title itself points out, being a multilingual desktop publisher means being able to do traditional DTP in addition to having knowledge of different language conventions so that the final piece is properly localized into a targeted culture.

When working for translation purposes, one must foresee that the translated written content will be significantly different from its source appearance, yet it will need to fit the same structures. Think of not just orthotypographic differences (sign conventions, writing in figures, punctuation, diacritical marks, etc.). but also in how much the shape of the text could change from one language to another (typography, volume of text, direction, hyphenation, etc.). The desktop publisher must be aware of all of this first while preparing a document and then while re-editing it in order to preserve the style guide and fit the original layout.

Software and File Formats Commonly Used by Desktop Publishers

Adobe is probably the most requested software provider in the professional design field. Designers and desktop publishers generally work with Adobe InDesign/.indd (for editorial design), Adobe Illustration/.ai (for illustrations and vector graphics) and Adobe Photoshop/.psd (for photo editing). In addition, Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Word/.docx, Microsoft Excel/.xlsx, or Microsoft PowerPoint/.pptx are also frequently used.

The How

1. The Need

Imagine you represent a company that is looking forward to expanding into the market of a foreign language speaking country. To do so, your company needs to localize a printable brochure that promotes a list of products under your brand in the language(s) of that country.

2. The Request

You contact a well-qualified localization services company, define the scope of the project with them, request a quotation for the job, and send the native files (the editable format that the file was originally generated in).

3. File preparation

To start the process, the DTP team will prepare the file for translation. File preparation consists of fixing issues that may cause trouble during the translation phase. This task includes fixing segmentation, flow, and typographic formats or even recreating whenever we find non-editable files or images.

Another task is to review the images and other style elements to determine if it suitable for the target region and advise the client if any of these elements should be changed in order for the translated piece to be well-received in the target country.

4. Translation

Once the file is ready, it is sent to the translation team. When this job is done, they send the file back to the DTP team, who will receive it this time with its content in the target language.

5. Formatting

When desktop publishers first open the translated file, it is typical to find a document—visually speaking—in terrible conditions. Is up to DTP to re-format the translated content so that it looks and works well again. This stage can include changing fonts (if the originals are not compatible with the target written system), adjusting sizes and other character and paragraph properties (when text is overset or does not fit properly), moving elements, checking color schemes, setting hyperlinks, correcting table of contents pagination, changing reading direction, and etc.

6. Review

Finally, after the translated file is desktop published, the quality assurance (QA) phase starts. The file is reviewed by a team of linguists to ensure that all copy has been properly set, including word breaks, special characters, and other items that are language-specific. At this point, the file(s) are presented to the client for review and feedback. If there are any comments from the client the DTP team takes the file back and implements each of the requested changes.

The brochure is now ready to land in new territories.

The Why

As explained in the above scenario, multilingual desktop publishing is an essential component in the localization process. These specialists work closely with the material from the beginning to the very last step, preserving integrity in every aspect of the design. This is substantial for any brand that needs to earn its place in markets through a solid visual identity and quality communication.

One tip

In order to help multilingual desktop publishers achieve great results for your brand, provide them with the corresponding editable files whenever possible, as well as any other auxiliary files (like fonts and images) that were used in the original layout. Having the editable version of the file to be translated is crucial to ensure that the final product is accurate and the quotation is cost-effective. So, make sure your designers have these available for when this happens. You can read more about this subject here.

The post How Multilingual Desktop Publishing and Design Can Help Your Brand appeared first on Globalization Partners International.