This case study is the outcome of my MFA thesis research which centers around localizing the user interface and experience design of digital products considering the culture of the audience and their visual heritage. As a graphic designer who is based in the United States and is from Iran, I noticed the digital products (web, mobile applications) produced in Iran disregard the Iranian’s specific needs and emulate western patterns. So, I researched the dissimilarities between the two countries by using Greet Hofstede’s cultural model and its six dimensions. I also used previous studies to show how these indicators can be revealed on the user interface and experience design of a product.

Based on the results and after careful investigations of the already existing apps in the market, I designed a Persian calendar application for Iranians inside and outside of the country (users of this app can be people from Afghanistan too). The user interface and experience design of this app implicate almost all of the cultural indicators of Iran such as high-power distance, collectivism, femininity, high uncertainty avoidance, and short-term orientation. 

I also aimed to retrieve Iran’s visual heritage by using it in a more modern, simple style in my app design. I was inspired by old Islamic astronomy and astrology books to create my design system and illustrations for the app. This app is a successful example of localization and a replacement for the phones' default calendar app because of its comprehensive features including Persian and Gregorian dates, scheduling, list of holidays, praying times, date and time converter, reminders (e.g. birthday, auto payments, holidays), and changing the language.

In this case study zodiac illustrations were created for both traditional and modern styles. This was to maintain the visual heritage of Iran combined with a modern approach to

use in the app. My illustrations were inspired and developed from the constellation references found in the book “The book of fixed stars” by Azophi. 

In this book, Azophi combined observations and descriptions of Ptolemy, the Greek astronomer with Arabic astronomical traditions. The book contains forty-eight illustrations of each constellation appear twice in mirror image, shown as observed from the earth and from the sky .

I created a series of two groups of zodiac signs (twenty-four total). The first set is similar to Azophi’s illustrations to reflect a more traditional style. The second set is a more modern interpretation keeping the main forms and shapes abstract. I used simple illustrations in the app for more effective communication.