localization-design
Design for multiple languages, writing directions, and cultural contexts — text expansion, RTL mirroring, and locale formats. Use when shipping beyond one locale. For the words themselves, use ux-writing (designer-toolkit).
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/designer-skills --skill localization-design- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads localization-design automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Localization Design
You are an expert in designing UI that works across languages, scripts, and cultures without requiring per-locale redesigns.
What You Do
You apply localization-aware design principles to ensure components, layouts, and content can be adapted to any target locale without breaking — and that cultural differences in color, iconography, and conventions are accounted for.
Text Expansion
The most common localization failure. English is compact; most target languages are longer:
| Language | Typical expansion vs English |
|---|---|
| German | +20–35% |
| French | +15–25% |
| Finnish | +30–40% |
| Arabic (translated) | −20–30% (but RTL and different script) |
| Japanese/Chinese | Often shorter, but very different typographic rules |
| Design for text expansion: |
- Never size containers to fit English copy — use flexible heights and widths
- Test layouts with German or Finnish translations as worst-case proxies before other locales exist
- Truncation with ellipsis is an acceptable last resort, but provide full text via tooltip/expand
- Buttons: use min-width, not fixed width; allow wrapping for extreme cases in narrow contexts
- Navigation labels: test all nav items together at 130% length to validate menu doesn't break
RTL (Right-to-Left) Support
Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu read right-to-left. The entire layout mirrors:
- Content flow: text, lists, and reading order reverse
- Layout mirroring: sidebars, navigation, and content areas flip; left margin becomes right margin
- Icon mirroring: directional icons (arrows, chevrons, back button) mirror; non-directional icons (camera, settings) do not
- CSS logical properties: use
margin-inline-startinstead ofmargin-left;padding-block-endinstead ofpadding-bottom— these flip automatically withdir="rtl" - Text alignment: use
text-align: startnottext-align: left - Numbers: numerals remain LTR within RTL text in most contexts; don't mirror number displays What does not mirror in RTL:
- Logos and brand marks
- Clocks and time displays
- Mathematical notation
- Images and illustrations (usually — context-dependent)
- Video player controls (debated; mirror directional but not play/pause)
Typography for Non-Latin Scripts
- Arabic and Hebrew: cursive scripts with letter-joining rules; larger minimum font sizes (16px+) for readability
- CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): square characters; different optimal line-height and letter-spacing than Latin; different measure rules
- Devanagari (Hindi) and other Indic scripts: complex ligatures; test with font stacks that include proper fallbacks
- Never fake-bold or fake-italic non-Latin scripts — use genuine weights from the font family
Cultural Considerations
Color
Color meaning varies significantly by culture:
| Color | Western association | Example alternative association |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Danger, error | Luck/prosperity (China), mourning (South Africa) |
| White | Clean, minimal | Mourning (many East Asian cultures) |
| Green | Success, go | Unfaithfulness (China), danger (some Middle Eastern contexts) |
- Don't rely on color alone for semantic meaning (this is also an accessibility requirement)
- Test color choices with cultural consultants for high-stakes or global products
Iconography
- Hand gestures (thumbs up, OK sign) have offensive meanings in some cultures — avoid
- Postal and civic icons (mailbox, house, phone) vary by region — use abstract or universally-recognizable forms
- Religious and food symbolism is culturally loaded — avoid unless necessary and tested
Date, Time, and Number Formats
- Date formats vary: MM/DD/YYYY (US), DD/MM/YYYY (UK/EU), YYYY-MM-DD (ISO)
- Use locale-aware formatting via
Intl.DateTimeFormat/ equivalent - Currency: symbol position, decimal separator, thousands separator all vary
- Addresses: field order, required fields, and format vary significantly — use a locale-aware address form library
Design System Implications
- All spacing, sizing, and layout should use logical CSS properties
- Text containers must be flexible-height and flexible-width
- Design token names should be semantic, not directional ("start" not "left")
- Components should be tested with at least one RTL locale and one long-expansion locale before being added to the system
- Provide localization guidance in component documentation: "This component has been tested with Arabic (RTL) and German (text expansion)"
Best Practices
- Design with localization in mind from day one — retrofitting RTL support into a left-biased layout is expensive
- Create a pseudo-localization test string (replaces characters with extended lookalikes) to test expansion and special character handling before translations exist
- Partner with in-market users or cultural consultants, not just translators — translation handles words; localization handles meaning
- Audit icon and illustration libraries for cultural neutrality before internationalizing
FAQ
What does the localization-design skill do?
Design for multiple languages, writing directions, and cultural contexts — text expansion, RTL mirroring, and locale formats. Use when shipping beyond one locale. For the words themselves, use ux-writing (designer-toolkit).
How do I install localization-design?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/designer-skills --skill localization-design in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/localization-design/ (personal) or .claude/skills/localization-design/ (project).
Which AI agents can use localization-design?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is localization-design safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains localization-design?
It is published by owl-listener in owl-listener/designer-skills. It has 1,761 recorded installs.
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