Designers Rebecca Hemstad and Mark Malek share how they created a localization-ready design system for SAS. They combined Figma Variables and design tokens to manage multilingual design challenges like text overflow and right-to-left (RTL) layouts. Their approach highlights the importance of early localization integration, semantic token organization, and the need for testing with real content. The article outlines their framework, including structured JSON tokens, design considerations for localization, and lessons learned, emphasizing that successful internationalization requires flexibility, collaboration, and ongoing improvements in tools and processes.
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2025/05/integrating-localization-into-design-systems/