> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.elisatrippetti.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Translation is content design, too - URL: https://www.elisatrippetti.com/translation-is-content-design/ - Published: 2023-01-30T18:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-19T19:11:07.000Z - Description: What translators really do every day behind the scenes - Author: Elisa Trippetti - Tags: UX writing > **Translation is content design, too**. Translators do much more than simply "replacing" the language used in a product or app. They know which strategies to use to accommodate differences between locales, all without losing the original meaning and intent of the text. --- ## Conceptual systems Translators can create (monolingual or bilingual) **conceptual systems** to organize knowledge in a given **domain** and show how concepts connect. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2026/02/Portfolio-1a-1.svg) A bilingual conceptual system. Image by author --- ## Level of specialization Translators decide which **language** to translate the document into. Who are the authors and readers? Expert-to-expert, expert-to-semi-expert and expert-to-layperson communication require different choices in terms of **voice**, **tone** and **style**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2025/02/Group-40.svg) Mapping available resources to understand the audience. Image by author --- ## Terminology Translators manage **specialized** **terminology**. They may pair with a **subject matter expert** (SME) to learn key terms and then record them in a bilingual **glossary** or **termbase**. They may also add definitions, example sentences and links alongside their suggested translations to make specialized language more consistent and accessible across channels. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2024/09/Portfolio-3-7.svg) A termbase entry. Image by author --- ## Voice and tone Translators align terminology with **brand voice** and **product positioning** in each locale. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2026/02/Portfolio-32.svg) A voice chart. Image by author --- ## Structure and flow Translators can change the **syntax** to make the text more effective and reduce **cognitive load**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2026/02/Portfolio-5-1.svg) Improving flow during the translation. Image by author --- ## Cultural references Translators often localize **cultural references** that may be unclear in other regions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2026/02/Portfolio-6-1.svg) Rendering cultural references. Image by author --- ## UX audit Translators flag **ambiguities** or UX issues in the source text before translating. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2024/10/Portfolio-55-2.svg) A page from a report I wrote on localizing CTAs. Image by author They also adapt **microcopy** to local expectations (error messages, CTAs, onboarding flows). ![Back translation: Your flight KL1777 has been canceled / KLM flight KL1777 (AMS-HAM) scheduled on MON 25 JUL at 06:55 AM has been canceled due to bad weather. Find your next flight through the app or contact us to get back on track as soon as possible. / Book new [flight] — Contact us](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2024/09/Portfolio-23-1.svg) Adapting text and visual cues. Image by author --- ## Information architecture Translators adjust the **layout** (font type, size and color, use of white space) to reflect the **information hierarchy**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2024/09/Portfolio-8-1.svg) Creating templates to standardize layout. Image by author Translators understand how each piece of content, localized or not fits into the **bigger picture**, the **end-to-end experience**. Many of the daily processes linguists handle fall under the broad umbrella of translation, yet there's so much more to it. It's quiet work, often invisible, but it determines how clearly and consistently a product speaks to an entirely new audience. --- Here are links to all the projects, both client and personal, I referenced throughout this post. [Helping food safety experts communicate across languagesAn Italian foodservice company needed to translate a set of 7 food safety regulations for their corporate partners in the UK. Here’s how I helped them achieve their goal.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Elisa TrippettiElisa Trippetti![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551884170-09fb70a3a2ed?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDF8fGZvb2QlMjBzYWZldHl8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI3MTIzOTk5fDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/helping-food-safety-experts-communicate-across-languages/) [Supporting an MVP launch with contentI was challenged to design a set of content guidelines to support the launch of a fictional digital product of my choice. Here’s how I went about it.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Elisa TrippettiElisa Trippetti![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1673767298275-769b08b4f675?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDEyfHxjcmVhdG9yJTIwZWNvbm9teXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3Mjc2MjA2ODl8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/supporting-an-mvp-launch-with-content/) [Optimizing a localized website with usability testingI conducted a usability test on foodspring, an international wellness and fitness brand. In particular, I involved 3 users to test the desktop version of their localized Italian website. Here’s the process I adopted and what I found.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Elisa TrippettiElisa Trippetti![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1693996045899-7cf0ac0229c7?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDd8fG51dHJpdGlvbmFsJTIwc3VwcGxlbWVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MjgxNDU2NDZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/optimizing-localized-websites-with-usability-testing/) [Delivering bad news with better microcopyI wrote microcopy to deliver bad news to app users. The two scenarios I worked on were a canceled flight and a late delivery. Here’s how I created and then improved the copy.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Elisa TrippettiElisa Trippetti![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1616094620696-15a31bf047ed?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDF8fHVwd2FyZCUyMGJyZXdpbmclMjBjb21wYW55fGVufDB8fHx8MTcyNzYxNzk5MXww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/delivering-bad-news-with-better-microcopy/) [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/8f/dc8fe240-9762-45ca-b607-5f39c80e84a5/content/images/2026/05/Elisa-Trippetti-3.jpg)](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/) ****Read more from me** I'm Elisa, an Italian content designer with a background in localization and customer service. This is where I document my life in UX and writing. [Go to the blog ](https://www.elisatrippetti.com/) ## Let’s talk words Get in touch on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisatrippetti/?ref=elisatrippetti.com) to talk about all things content design, UX writing and localization. [Contact me](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisatrippetti/?ref=elisatrippetti.com)