Iron Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2023
Untranslate Application
by Arani Halder
- A' Design Award 2023 Iron Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Arani Halder
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 9,499
- Verification code DDD8CAEA4A · Verify this award
About Untranslate Application
Untranslate is a language learning application that teaches the nuances of a language through context-based learning. Untranslate offers a single word or phrase from a curated list, then explains the selected term through four contexts: historical, cultural, social and colloquial. Each word is supported by etymology, related books, movies and songs, news articles and clips, and guidance on conversational use. The application can be used on mobile devices, tablets and laptops, and the screens follow accessibility standards.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Untranslate explores the barrier between languages through the subjective experiences of people. It is an application that teaches you the nuances of a language through context-based learning. Deviating from the traditional academic sources, it introduces you specific cultural references and content that can only be learnt by living in the corresponding place or through conversations with native speakers.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Untranslate is meant to be an application that can be accessed on mobile devices as well as tablets and laptops. The screens and graphics are not only adaptable but are in line with the accessibility standards for all kinds of people.
- Tags
- Application, Language, Education, Culture, Linguistics, Social, Context, Historical, Community
- Production Technology
- After rigorous user testing, and evaluating existing language applications, these were some challenges.
Limited Functionality, content covered was very limited.
Lack of Context, information may not be contextually acceptable.
Impersonal, people do not connect with language.
Moving forward, here are the insights gained from the pain points.
Experience, the content should be put into real life context.
Context, more experiential approach to language learning.
Awareness, exposure to varied kinds of media. - Design Challenge
- The primary challenge in this project stemmed from the notion that language by itself can be an ineffective tool in seamlessly communicating across borders and backgrounds. During building the content and flow of the app, it was very important to get information from credible, first hand sources and be mindful of any social and culturally relevant information. There were several rounds of fact checking, so as to produce the most accurate and unbiased content.
- Project Duration
- This project started in New York City in August 2019 and finished in May 2021. Since then, it has won a Graphic Design USA Award, a Best Award (hosted by DINZ), an ADGA Award and a Communication Arts Interaction Design Award.
- Operation Flow
- Untranslate provides the user with a single word or phrase from a curated list of contextually rich words. Upon selecting a word it presents you with 4 different contexts, historical, cultural, social and colloquial.
As a part of the four contexts, Untranslate presents the user with the etymology of the word; a list of curated culturally relevant content such as book, movies and songs; access to news articles and clips; and knowledge on how to use the word in a conversational setting. - Research
- The research behind Untranslate involved first-hand interviews with multiple native speakers of multiple languages. The purpose of the interviews was to obtain experiential information about their perception of language, their social and political associations with it, in addition to any anecdotes they may have related to their linguistic background. Images and quotes were also requested from the interviewees so as to make the content of the application more relatable and welcoming.
- Inspiration
- Language is not just a tool, but a reflection of its surrounding culture, people, media, and socio-politics. Therefore, the true essence of a language can never truly be translated into another. Certain words, phrases, and expressions can only be fully understood by interacting with the culture and the people it has emerged and grown from. The large number of people who grow up outside their state or country often lose the privilege of being immersed in their native languages and cultures.
- Image Credits
- Image and content research credits:
Esra Gumrukculer
Carolyn Olaguivel
Namra Khalid
Paloma Corrigan
Anamika Ananth
Aruja Kothari
Deveshi Jhunjhunwala
Jiahui Yu
Sinong Li
Sichao Liu
Anjana Halder
Iris Favand
Deepak Warrier
Colors of Untranslate Application
Design Interview about Untranslate Application
Untranslate explores the barrier between languages through the subjective experiences of people. It is an application that teaches you the nuances of a language through context-based learning. Deviating from the traditional academic sources, it introduces you to specific cultural content that can only be learnt by living in the corresponding place or through conversations with native speakers. Through Untranslate, one not only understands a piece of language but is able to engage and contextualize it within its nuanced surroundings.
I chose to focus on the many words and phrases in various languages that are specific to the culture and context in which they are used and cannot be fully translated into other languages without losing their full meaning. My aim through Untranslate was to create a design system that is inclusive and culturally sensitive and create a better understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural perspectives.
I hope to be able to add more languages to the application to widen its audience and reach. I also hope to collaborate with developers who can help me turn this concept into a product.
I started working on the concept in January 2020 worked on it on and off to finally finish it in May 2021.
Untranslate was a personal project. A lot of my work focusses on themes of language, culture, pluralism, autonomy and the power of knowing one’s roots. I have always aimed to open windows into the lives of different people and the broader socio-political movements that help shape them. However, I had never worked on a project as extensive as this one. Untranslate was quite eye-opening for me as I got to speak with and learn from a vast range of people over the course of the project. I learnt about several different cultures and languages, and how these affect the way one perceives the world.
I am not looking to sell the rights of this design/project to any organization any time soon.
I love creating work that explores the connections between language, culture, pluralism and is heavily influenced by my experiences. The primary concept of this project stemmed from the notion that language by itself can be an ineffective tool in seamlessly communicating across borders and backgrounds. During building the content and flow of the app, it was very important to get information from credible, first hand sources and be mindful of any social and culturally relevant information. There were several rounds of fact checking, so as to produce the most accurate and unbiased content. I made sure to interview at least 20-25 native speakers (2-3 for every language used) in order to get the most accurate information. The purpose of the interviews was to obtain experiential information about their perception of language, their social and political associations with it, in addition to any anecdotes they may have related to their linguistic background.
The audience that I chose for this app is quite widespread, but hasn’t been explored as much yet. The target audience for Untranslate was the large number of people who grow up outside their state or country often lose the privilege of being immersed in their native languages and cultures.
In post-colonial countries where the generational gap is exacerbated by the fact that younger generations now rely more heavily on colonial languages than their native ones; linguistic design can help motivate deeper connections to family and culture. Further immersing readers in historical, political, pop cultural works can also help them understand the time periods and contexts within which their older or younger counterparts have grown up. This understanding allows for more nuanced and more perceptive communication. So, though my target audience is relatively untapped, I believe that the concept of Untranslated is quite approachable and relatable.
In post-colonial countries where the generational gap is exacerbated by the fact that younger generations now rely more heavily on colonial languages than their native ones; linguistic design can help motivate deeper connections to family and culture. Further immersing readers in historical, political, pop cultural works can also help them understand the time periods and contexts within which their older or younger counterparts have grown up. This understanding allows for more nuanced and more perceptive communication. So, though my target audience is relatively untapped, I believe that the concept of Untranslated is quite approachable and relatable.
“Untranslate” is a nod to the many words and phrases in various languages that are specific to the culture and context in which they are used and cannot be fully translated into other languages without losing their full meaning.
I used Adobe InDesign and Illustrator for typesetting and illustrations. Additionally, I used sketch to create the wireframes of the app and Principle to animate the interactive user interfaces.
Apart from the concept, Untranslate is backed by extensive research. Through the research, I made sure that the app addresses the needs of the user or client and is easy and intuitive to use. Untranslate also has some interesting features such as users can bookmark content for future reference or share it on social media. They can also save words that they have already learnt about in case they want to access them in the future.
I collaborated with a diverse group of people for the content of this application. I made sure to interview at least 20-25 native speakers (2-3 for every language used) in order to get the most accurate information. The purpose of the interviews was to obtain experiential information about their perception of language, their social and political associations with it, in addition to any anecdotes they may have related to their linguistic background.
I wanted my work to reach a wide audience, and an international design competition seemed like the perfect platform to do so. Through the competition, I wanted to start a discourse on the social implication of design and how it can be used to have a positive impact on individuals and society.