Michela Frecchiami

In our [previous article about cross-cultural design](https://nebulab.com/blog/cross-cultural-ecommerce-design), we delved into the intricacies of crafting online shopping experiences that resonate with diverse cultural backgrounds. We explored how Cross-Cultural Design can be the beacon that guides brands through the complexities of global expansion, emphasizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is rarely practical.

This time, we'd like to focus on a particular design trend that originated in the East and is gaining traction worldwide in specific market segments.

Characterized by busy interfaces and seemingly chaotic information taxonomies, this model stands in stark contrast to the more streamlined, search-centric user experiences we’re used to. Browsing for products is an adventure in and of itself: the shopping journey is akin to a digital bazaar, buzzing with energy, and each click leads to unexpected finds.

This trend has a name—it’s called *shoppertainment*—and it’s being popularized in the West by Chinese e-commerce marketplaces such as Shein and Temu.

Today, we’ll look at what shoppertainment is exactly, why it works so well, and what lessons we can learn from its most prominent adopters.

## How Shein and Temu Drive Customer Engagement through Shoppertainment
Temu, pronounced “tee-moo,” is an online superstore for virtually everything—from home goods to apparel to electronics—that made its Super Bowl debut in 2023.

Temu encourages consumers to “shop like a billionaire” and offers products at surprisingly low prices. It has quickly become [the most downloaded app](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1417955/most-downloaded-marketplace-apps-worldwide/), surpassing rivals Amazon and Walmart, not just in the United States but in the entire world.

With low prices and cluttered design, the personalized and gamified shopping experience Temu offers has drawn comparisons to Shein, [the Chinese fast fashion upstart](http://www.cnn.com/2021/08/14/business/shein-china-fast-fashion-intl-hnk/index.html) that also offers a wide selection of inexpensive clothing and home goods and has made significant inroads into several markets, including Europe and the United States.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/05fe639fe020903aa95fffd22a520ba6aaa28a06-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Shein Influencer on Youtube">
</figure>

Shein and Temu have both burst onto the scene in an online-first, fast-moving world. Through social media, influencer partnerships, live-streaming events, and a hefty reliance on performance marketing, they've created a strong brand presence that resonates with their target audience, often overshadowing the more sober, utilitarian approach of marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart.

When exploring the user experience design of platforms like Shein and Temu, it becomes evident that they foster an overwhelming sensory experience.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/77d823a005f01064ebcf0d5aadc49f0a4ea92f62-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Temu user experience">
</figure>

The interfaces of these platforms are a collage of vibrant colors, animated elements, and interactive features that aim to captivate and retain user attention. It's a digital landscape that's always in motion, with pop-ups, limited-time offers, and an endless stream of personalized recommendations designed to evoke the same excitement and urgency one might feel in a bustling street market.

Compare this with Amazon's more conservative approach, where functionality and efficiency are the cornerstones. Amazon's clean and practical design focuses on the ease of finding products through a logical and orderly user interface.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/3130810a416d7ba2c3239d26b5bdf116d0b43d4c-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Amazon browsing experience">
</figure>

These differences mirror broader cultural preferences that Temu and Shein lean heavily into and have managed to “export” outside their original cultural context.

## High-Context vs. Low-Context Cultures and their Impact on Design
In [high-context](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-context_and_low-context_cultures) Eastern cultures, where communication is often layered and nuanced, the sensory-rich UX design of Shein and Temu does not overwhelm but rather speaks a familiar language.

Furthermore, the digital journey took a mobile-first trajectory in the East, with the majority of the population experiencing the internet for the first time through the screens of their phones rather than desktop computers. This has profoundly influenced how online services, including e-commerce, have evolved in these regions.

Let’s think about Alipay and WeChat, platforms offering a comprehensive range of services from bill payments and banking management to taxi bookings and shopping. For super app users, the process of purchasing a luxury handbag within the same platform used for everyday tasks like paying utility bills is seamlessly integrated, reducing cognitive dissonance.

Conversely, in the more conservative and [low-context](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-context_and_low-context_cultures) West, Amazon's streamlined approach aligns more closely with communication preferences. The marketplace's structure and navigation are built for efficiency, offering a controlled space that prioritizes the straightforward discovery and purchase of products. Amazon's interface is a testament to the low-context communication prevalent in Western culture, where explicit messages win the day.

And yet, despite the cultural nuances, shoppertainment-centric platforms like Temu and Shein continue to gain traction in the West. What gives?

## The Appeal of Shoppertainment Across Cultures and Generations
As mentioned earlier, Temu and Shein embrace the delight of discovering treasures in a bustling marketplace. The success of these platforms lies in their mastery of discovery-based commerce. They blend AI with an understanding of user behavior to create a personalized and gamified shopping environment. Influencers, social proof, and live-streaming events further enrich this landscape, transforming the act of purchasing into an engaging and social event that feeds on the innate human love for exploration and deals.

Interestingly, this “shoppertainment" model resonates particularly well with Western Gen Z consumers, who are more adaptable to innovative, if less polished, user interfaces. Their shopping habits are motivated by value and the excitement of discovery rather than the aesthetics of the shopping platform. The loud and lively [Y2K stylings](https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/y2k-fashion#:~:text=The%20technology%2C%20styles%2C%20dress%20and,Y2K%20problem%20and%20Y2K%20anxiety), playful interactions, and immersive content that dominate these sites speak the language of a generation that craves authenticity and spontaneity over polish and predictability.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/e1c699b758b05bdb646829f956b0ea868f307157-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Shoppertainment and Gen Z">
</figure>

Temu and Shein continue to rise in popularity, and not just with Gen Z. There’s another significant factor contributing to this phenomenon.

While Gen Z may be at the forefront of embracing energetic and interactive digital storefronts, the economic draw of these platforms speaks to the universal appeal of consumerism. Older generations, too, find the cost savings compelling enough to venture into these more animated shopping environments, suggesting that the desire for value can sometimes supersede preferences for a more traditional and subdued browsing experience.

As such, Shein and Temu have tapped into a powerful vein within the consumer market, demonstrating that while the 'shoppertainment' model might be vital to capturing the hearts of younger users, the fundamental drive to consume at the best possible price is a widespread motivator that crosses generational and cultural boundaries.

## Is Global E-Commerce Moving Toward Shoppertainment?
Temu and Shein have not just pioneered the 'shoppertainment' model; they've excelled in it, capturing the hearts of a broad audience with their gamified, discovery-driven approach to commerce. Their success lies beyond competitive pricing or extensive inventories, and it’s rooted in a shopping experience that equally prioritizes entertainment and acquisition. 

Looking ahead, the trajectory of e-commerce design might be steering towards a hybrid model. Incorporating personalized and interactive elements typical of Eastern consumer experiences without compromising the organized simplicity that users appreciate in the West will be critical to the continued success of our domestic marketplaces.

As such, the next challenge in e-commerce design will be to create experiences that resonate not just with a medley of cultural preferences but also with the varied tastes of an international, multi-generational audience.

If you have any questions about shoppertainment or want to understand which principles you can apply to your brand, [feel free to reach out](https://nebulab.com/contact-us)–we’d love to chat!

East, Meet West: The Rise of Shoppertainment in E-Commerce

Picture this: You run an eCommerce store, and business is booming in your home country. Feeling confident, you decide to expand into new markets. You translate your website into a few languages, but something's amiss. Your sales aren't hitting the expected numbers, and customers seem less engaged. What went wrong?

This is where Cross-Cultural Design comes to the rescue. Cross-Cultural Design (CCD) recognizes that every culture is unique and influenced by its values, traditions, and preferences. Ignoring these cultural nuances can lead to missteps, missed opportunities, and the alienation of potential customers.

In this article, we'll take you on a laid-back journey through the exciting world of CCD, explaining why it's a game-changer and how to navigate it effortlessly.

## The Principles of Cross-Cultural Design

Thinking about how cultural differences can influence users' needs and expectations isn’t an easy task, and we at Nebulab know it very well: we’re not only fully distributed, but we also work with brands from all over the world. Local preferences, navigation, and information hierarchy are just some of the aspects that can be influenced by cultural, behavioral, and economic elements.

In theory, User Research should help designers understand what their audience expects from digital interactions. Unfortunately, most behavioral research studies–which User Research practitioners take a lot of inspiration from–[are based on Western subjects](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho6OlPrD7sA)). This leads to the majority of design and user experience benchmarks being Western-centric, which creates obvious problems for teams that are designing for a non-Western audience.

In light of these challenges, broadening our perspectives becomes even more difficult: without reliable data and benchmarks, how can designers operate effectively without sacrificing speed?

That’s where Cross-Cultural Design comes to the rescue: rather than providing a set of steps to follow, it offers a set of principles that designers should keep in mind when operating outside their zone of “cultural comfort.” These principles will guide you to approach your work differently, which, in turn, will help you make better choices for your design, content, and technical strategy:

* **Embrace Cultural Immersion**: Dive into the culture you're designing for, immerse yourself in its nuances, and understand its values, traditions, and aesthetics. This deep understanding will help you create designs that resonate with the local audience.
* **Research Creative Communities**: Explore the creative communities within the culture. This involves understanding how artists, designers, and local creators express cultural identity. Drawing inspiration from these communities can enrich your design.
* **Work with Experts**: Collaborate with experts or individuals with in-depth knowledge of the culture. Their insights can provide invaluable guidance and ensure your design is culturally sensitive and authentic.
* **Question Assumptions**: Challenge assumptions and preconceptions about the culture. Be open to reevaluating your design choices based on real-world insights and user feedback rather than relying on stereotypes or biases.
* **Prioritize Flexibility**: Design with flexibility in mind. Recognize that cultures evolve, and your design should adapt to changing norms and preferences. A flexible design can better withstand the test of time and evolving cultural trends.

Now that we've explored these guiding principles, let's dive into two crucial concepts closely related to cross-cultural design: internationalization and localization.

## Internationalization and Localization: You Need Both!

The most fundamental challenge teams face when working on a cross-cultural project is ensuring the content, branding, and design are flexible enough to accommodate multiple languages, nationalities, and cultures. This process is called _internationalization_ (often abbreviated as _i18n_). **Internationalization involves creating digital experiences that work across cultures.**

On the other hand, **localization (_l10n_) involves tailoring a product to a specific culture.** Localization encompasses modifying UIs, adjusting layouts and styles, revising content and language, and tailoring and enhancing the user experience to suit the needs of the particular audience you’re designing for.

In other words, while internationalization is more about having a framework in place to adapt your product to a global audience, localization is about doing the actual work of adapting your product for each audience you want to serve.

Because internationalization mainly falls on the shoulders of your engineering team, we won’t focus on it in this article. Different eCommerce platforms and software libraries have different internationalization capabilities–make sure your engineering team is aware of any cross-cultural requirements and uses that information to inform their technical choices.

Instead, let’s explore the most common aspects that you need to consider when _localizing_ your design systems and digital experiences, particularly when it comes to eCommerce.

### Names and Addresses

It's essential to understand that cultural differences extend to the most basic elements of your user experience, such as how names or addresses should be collected and formatted.

For example, when we designed the checkout form for a Pakistani marketplace, we learned that Pakistani individuals will often have a first name, a middle name (which is typically their father's name), and a last name (family name or surname). With that requirement in mind, we decided to scrap the “First name” and “Last name” fields, typical of Western cultures, in favor of a single “Your name” field instead.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/3cc7341fef23a9a7996314c04bb0f694078be97b-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Unified field for first, middle and last names">
</figure> 

The same applies to addresses: in the form below, you might have noticed that there is no ZIP Code field–that’s because there are no ZIP codes in Pakistan. For our client [Framework](https://frame.work/), on the other hand, we’ve had to adapt the ZIP code field to allow both 3+2 and 3+3 codes in Taiwan.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/9ba2719bc3b73d7a9af55685588fbde123c4fbf8-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Framework's shipping address form for Taiwan">
  <figcaption>Taiwan’s introduced 3+3 ZIP codes in 2020 to improve mail sorting efficiency.</figcaption>
</figure>


### Text Direction

One of the most significant layout challenges encountered while localizing a South Eastern client’s eCommerce experience was supporting right-to-left (RTL) text in Lebanon.

That kind of change doesn’t just involve the actual text but also requires shifting the overall content and “mirroring” certain UI elements:

* **Headers, labels, and text should be oriented from right to left**. In eCommerce, that means displaying the brand’s logo on the right and the cart icon on the left.
* **Navigation buttons** must be mirrored, but icons that do not convey direction should remain unchanged.
* **Checkboxes** should be positioned to the right of their corresponding label.
* **Progress bars** should fill in a right-to-left direction.

Later in this article, we will explore tools to assist designers in this process.

### Linguistic Nuances

Very often, translating your UI and content is just the first step. It’s crucial to remember that each language has its quirks and nuances.

A common problem is that UI elements that look good in English might not be suitable for other languages. As an example, the German language allows stringing together multiple nouns to express complex concepts, which leads to some very long words that cannot be readily displayed in a mobile button.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/0e17cec623f050d16c9a7d4dc23019effd576e6c-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="German vs. English UI in Framework">
</figure>

Another consideration is that the formatting of numbers, phone numbers, and currencies varies in each language. Using the same phone number or currency format across different languages is bound to cause confusion and friction for the user.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/b949ccdab489f172ff0e28a913d61c54d49da452-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Framework's checkout flow">
</figure>

### Payment Methods

Credit card usage is widespread in Western countries, while digital wallets and cash-on-delivery are preferred in many Asian markets. Adapting payment options to local preferences can dramatically enhance the customer experience and your conversion rates!

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/b8e24cd97481e4b71bb924ac1b5019328afb9c57-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="OLX Mall's payment method selector">
  <figcaption>In some countries, cultural, historical, and socio-economic factors led to a deep-rooted preference for cash payments, even in online transactions.</figcaption>
</figure>

### Sign-In Preferences

Even something as familiar as the sign-in process can vary across cultures. In Western markets, users typically register for websites or online services using their email addresses. However, in Eastern countries, most users prefer to use their phone number.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/2a7306fd9abf204f991c15a7cdfab56224db629c-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Sign-in modal that supports phone numbers">
  <figcaption>In many Eastern countries, phone numbers, not emails, are the preferred method identification for creating online accounts.</figcaption>
</figure>

### Social Proof

In the world of eCommerce, trust is the cornerstone of successful transactions. Yet, how trust is built and perceived can vary significantly across cultures: some cultures prioritize the prominent display of security badges for reassurance, while others emphasize customer reviews and testimonials to instill trust in a website.

Understanding these cultural nuances is pivotal in crafting an effective eCommerce strategy that resonates with diverse audiences worldwide.

<figure>
  <img src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/ae4f65150f404d46b77a0fd1f3f6f6ea2d4ef6db-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip" alt="Shop Safely badge in OLX Mall's checkout flow">
  <figcaption>In OLX Mall, we displayed a “Shop Safely” badge through the entire checkout flow.</figcaption>
</figure>

### We’re Not Even Done

If that wasn’t enough, here are a few more aspects you should consider when designing eCommerce experiences for a global audience:

* **Information Density:** Cultural differences can affect how users expect information to be organized. In some cultures, users may love maximalism and appreciate detailed product descriptions, rich user interfaces, and bright colors, while in others, a more minimalist approach might be preferable.
* **Taxation:** How you apply taxes is dictated by regulatory requirements, but different cultures also have different norms for where and when taxes should be displayed. For specific audiences, showing tax amounts in the wrong place or at the wrong time can increase friction and cart abandonment rates.
* **Imagery:** When picking and displaying images, it’s essential to be mindful of each culture’s sensitivities. You also want to be aware of home and mobile internet speeds in the countries you’re serving: serving a 5MB product image to someone on a 3G connection might not be the best idea!

It would be hard–if not impossible–to provide a comprehensive list of all the elements you should pay attention to. Instead, we recommend constantly referring to the principles of Cross-Cultural Design and using them to inform your day-to-day decisions.

## Sharpening Your Toolkit for Global Design

With localization becoming increasingly important, all the most popular design tools support non-Latin languages and offer features that help in designing for cross-cultural projects.

### Use the Right Figma Plugins

Figma's support for RTL languages is relatively new, having been available for about two years. To change the default [text direction](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/4972283635863), select the main menu and go to **Text > Text direction**. Then, when you use the Text tool, the text direction will be set automatically.

There are also several plugins available that let you add your translations quickly and easily. Our favorite ones are:

* [Translator](https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/743218037112142643/translator), which boasts support for 130 languages and translates entire pages very quickly, making it an excellent choice for a quick preview of your layouts in various languages.
* [Cube Translation](https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1205127328344023071/cube-translator), which uses AI to enhance translation accuracy and provides more robust tooling for real-time collaboration and content synchronization.

As always, your mileage may vary, so we encourage you to experiment with a few different plugins and pick the one most suited for your use case!

### Choose Multilingual Fonts

Selecting the appropriate font for an international project can be a challenging task. It's important to note that not all web fonts support multiple languages, and in some cases, you might encounter unreadable rectangular symbols (referred to as "Tofu").

Multilingual fonts are specifically crafted to solve this problem and accommodate various languages. The most comprehensive open-source, multilingual font family is [Noto](https://fonts.google.com/noto) (its name stands for “no tofu”), and it offers support for more than 1,000 languages.

If you want something more unique, [Google Fonts](https://fonts.google.com) provides a variety of fonts that are either multilingual or designed for specific languages–you can easily find them by applying the language filter to your search.

![Hello is written in different languages with Noto font](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/kqgmf0g2/production/f885f7fee73faf86874c394e4ff0d91df07f1849-1600x1052.jpg?fit=clip)

### Adapt Your Images

As we’ve mentioned, a critical aspect of images is cultural inclusivity. Culturally inclusive images are significant as they portray diversity and support representation. If you have a dedicated creative production team, work with them to develop assets that are suitable for your audience. If you don’t, websites like [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/) have handy search tools to help you find what you need.

Once you have your images, you also want to ensure they’re optimized for your audience’s internet speeds. [TinyPNG](https://tinypng.com/) is often the go-to choice and, despite the name, also works with JPG and WebP files. We recommend pairing it with a robust CDN for optimizing images on the fly.


## Ready To Take On the World?

As explored in this article, culture plays an immense role in shaping how people interact with and perceive the digital shopping experiences we create for them. As you expand internationally, recognizing these influences is not just a consideration but the key to thriving in an increasingly diverse eCommerce ecosystem. Cross-Cultural Design can help you do just that.

If you have questions on how to make these principles work for your team, or need help designing for a global audience, [feel free to reach out](https://nebulab.com/contact-us)–we’d love to chat!

The Nebulab

East, Meet West: The Rise of Shoppertainment in E-Commerce

Expanding Your Brand Globally With Cross-Cultural Design