Case study
How Global Lingo enabled ICON Magazine to launch a Simplified Chinese digital edition under tight deadlines
ICON Magazine, a globally renowned architecture and design publication, sought to expand into the Chinese market. Faced with a strict one‑month deadline and the need to preserve high‑quality design across over 130 pages, ICON partnered with Global Lingo. Our team managed translation, desktop publishing, proofreading and test layouts to produce an online and iPad edition that honored ICON’s design aesthetic and linguistic accuracy.
Key benefits
Delivered full digital Simplified Chinese edition within a one‑month deadline
Preserved ICON’s high‑design quality during translation
Enabled online and iPad distribution ahead of Chinese industry events
Created a bespoke translation memory by analyzing over 130 pages
Ensured quality through proofreading and desktop publishing review processes
Facilitated seamless collaboration with ICON’s design team
How we helped
The Challenge
ICON aimed to grow readership in China by creating a Simplified Chinese edition of its magazine. With over 130 pages to translate and design, the project had to be released online and via iPad ahead of major industry conferences. Maintaining ICON’s reputation for high design quality meant translations had to match the aesthetics and values of the English edition, all within a rigid one‑month timeframe.
Our Solution
Global Lingo collaborated closely with ICON’s editorial and design teams. We:
- Facilitated discussions to clarify deadlines, budgets and design requirements
- Sourced Simplified Chinese typeface samples and created test layouts to ensure visual consistency
- Received Adobe InDesign files and extracted text, building a translation memory
- Assigned translations to selected Chinese linguists
- Passed copy to pre‑approved proofreaders
- Applied final text into layouts via DTP specialists
The Result
Global Lingo delivered the fully localized digital edition on time. The Simplified Chinese version was well received, enabling ICON to significantly expand its readership in China. The online and iPad editions launched in time for key industry events, establishing a strong foothold in the new market.
Why Global Lingo?
- Demonstrated ability to meet tight timeframes under complex design requirements
- Seamless collaboration with ICON’s design team on typeface and layout
- End‑to‑end management, from translation memory creation to final DTP