01
Overview
The Unicode Consortium required a multilingual design system to support 6,000+ languages and improve iteration speed for internal tools. We built 130+ components and reduced iteration cycle time by 80% while saving 15 hours per week.
02
My Role
I owned the design system and component library: research on multilingual UI patterns, component design, documentation, and collaboration with engineering for implementation. I also contributed to architecture decisions for the screenshot and block systems.
03
Process
Research & Discovery
Audit of existing tools and pain points. Research on RTL, vertical text, and language-specific typography and layout needs.
Ideation & Wireframes
Component inventory and prioritization. Wireframes for key flows and layout patterns that work across scripts.
Visual Design & Prototyping
130+ components designed and documented. Multilingual UI examples and architecture diagrams for 15k+ screenshot blocks.
Testing & Iteration
Testing with internal users and language experts. Iteration on component APIs and documentation.
Final Deliverables
Component library, style guide, and implementation support. Rollout and training for internal teams.
04
Visuals
05
Outcomes
- 130+ components in the design system
- Support for 6,000+ languages
- 80% reduction in iteration cycle time
- 15 hours per week saved for the team
- 15,000+ screenshot blocks supported
06
Reflection
Designing for 6k+ languages pushed me to think beyond Western UI assumptions. I learned how much typography, layout, and component design need to flex for different scripts and reading directions.