Introduction
Microsoft Translator is a multilingual translation app. This redesign is a complete rework of its design and aesthetics, adopting Microsoft’s Fluent design system. It introduces new communication features, including live chat, while creating an intuitive interface.
Year
Timeline
Secondary Research of TRanslation Apps
Google Translate processes 146 billion words daily, surpassing combined output of all professional translators in a month.
Industry-Specific Market Potential
The global machine translation market reached over $1.1 billion in 2022, up from $650 million in 2020, with expectations to grow to $3 billion by 2027
Redokun
Accuracy & Competence
Students utilising translation apps like Reverso made fewer lexical, cohesion, omission, and text-type errors compared to those not using such tools, emphasising the role of design in enhancing translation accuracy.
ResearchGate
Unmet Needs
Studies indicate that current mobile translation apps often fail to meet the diverse needs of international student users, suggesting significant opportunities for design improvements to better serve these populations.
arxiv
USER Reviews
User reviews from the App Store and Play Store revealed key insights from real user experiences, highlighting opportunities to refine the Sony Headphones Connect app for a more seamless and tailored experience.
“The Imploding App!!!”
It’s not as easy to use now and I can’t copy and paste the translation like I used to. I used to be able to communicate with my friends by copying translated messages and texting them, amazing, but apparently that was too convenient and made way too much sense
El d'maré - App Store
“Almost unreadable”
The translations are fine and some of the features are nice, but the visuals are horrible. The font is lightweight and hard to read, the blurry photo background is distracting.
Karen Peterson - Play Store
“The service is good but this app needs work”
Firstly, with my iPad in dark mode it is extremely hard to see the text I type. Next, the app has not been written to function side-by-side with another app on an iPad. That feature was introduced years ago.
DrScottWatkins - App Store
“The update killed it”
The most recent update took away all the best features, like being able to copy/paste and especially, especially the split screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTH?!? I also noticed the font size on the translations, especially for language like Hindi or Korean, is smaller makes the translation very hard to users to read.
Himalayan Hiker - App Store
“Features removed”
Presenter mode no longer working/translating and unable to download languages for offline use.
William Habeck - Play Store
Designing for diverse users
Creating distinct persona groups helps understand user challenges and goals. By analysing characteristics, needs, and commonly used apps, tailored needs can be effectively addressed.
Experience Mapping
This user journey maps the typical experience of using a translation app, detailing key actions, thoughts, emotions, and opportunities at each stage. It also highlights overarching goals and frustrations, that provide insights into areas where design enhancements can improve the user experience.
Site Map
The site map illustrates the user flow of the core functions within the app, including camera, text, and voice translation, along with the live chat feature. It also highlights how users can access and manage saved or previous translations.
Wireframes
Design System
As a Microsoft product, the redesign exclusively utilised the Microsoft Fluent Design System. Both the newer Microsoft Fluent 2 iOS (Community) and the older Microsoft Fluent Android (Community) were used in Figma. The Android version had not been updated on Figma for over two years at the time of redesigning, while the iOS version was regularly updated. The product centred around the Android version due to personal access to devices at the time for prototype testing.
1. Teams Integration in Mobile Apps
Translator is embedded in the Teams mobile app, enabling real-time multilingual conversations without switching apps.
2. Chat with Teams Integration
The chat feature now allows sharing and migrating conversations to Teams for multilingual within channels or personal chats.
Project Thoughts
By introducing advanced, industry-standard features, the update addressed critical shortcomings, ensuring the app remains competitive in a crowded market. It also paved the way for integration into Microsoft’s broader product portfolio and ecosystem, helping strengthen its relevance in the current tech landscape.
Building on the foundation of the TRAC Mobility projects, the challenge lay in balancing a familiar design system with the unique requirements of a vastly different product. Working independently helped refine my skills in combining functional UX design with aesthetics, solving complex design problems, and addressing diverse user needs.
