Cultural Implications of International Web Development

Much like the linguistic challenges, culture and law are important considerations for the international Web author. What is accepted as entertainment in one country might be considered blasphemous in another. Standards in content organization which are expected in one country might be ignored in another. Considering the diversity of cultures and their legal systems, the potential for troublesome scenarios is virtually endless. Therefore, when a medium crosses so many borders so quickly and with relative ease, cultural and legal clashes are imminent.

Arnold, Mitchell D. MitchArnold.com (2001). Design>Web Design>Cultural Theory

Deep Context

Most IA tools and methods focus on the users and the content being developed for websites. Jorge Arango uses the ideas from anthropologist Edward Hall as a starting point to dig deep into the idea of context, its variations, and the impacts on how people interpret information.

Arango, Jorge. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Web Design>Cultural Theory

A Prototype Theory Approach to Website Localization: An Analytical Method for Technical Communicators    

As global online access grows, Web site designers find themselves creating materials for an increasingly international audience. Cultural groups, however, can have different expectations of what constitutes acceptable Web site design. This article examines how prototype theory can serve as a methodology for analyzing Web sites designed for users from different cultures. Such analyses, in turn, can help individuals create more effective online materials for international audiences.

St. Amant, Kirk R. IEEE PCS (2005). Articles>Web Design>Localization>Cultural Theory

A Summary of My Ideas about National Culture Differences

In the uiGarden forum there has been much discussion about cultural differences in the web design, especially in reference to animation and flashy elements. It looks right to offer Professor Hofstede’s ideas to readers here. These ideas were first based on a large research project into national culture differences across subsidiaries of a multinational corporation (IBM) in 64 countries.

Hofstede, Geert. uiGarden (2006). Articles>Web Design>Cultural Theory

Digital Content Developers and Cultural Memory

Digital content producers must regard preservation and archiving as an essential task.

McLeod, Michael. Content Matters (2006). Articles>Web Design>Cultural Theory>History