Sometimes the most efficient process is working where the content already lives.
When people think about translation and localisation projects, they tend to picture the same workflow: a source file arrives, usually a Word document or a PDF, text gets extracted, translated, and then someone has to rebuild the layout from scratch. It works, but it’s not always the most efficient approach.
A recent project reminded me of this in a very practical way. The brief involved translating a medical leaflet into multiple languages; a sensitive, specialist piece of content requiring both linguistic precision and clear, accessible formatting. But instead of working with traditional file formats, the client had built everything in Canva.
Rather than exporting the content, translating it separately, and then reimporting it – which would have created formatting issues and required significant rework – we took a different approach.
We invited specialised medical linguists directly into the Canva file as collaborators, allowing them to edit the content within the existing design.
The result was a significantly smoother workflow. There were no file exchanges back and forth, no formatting problems to fix after translation, and no need to rebuild layouts in multiple languages. Once the linguists had completed their work, the client simply downloaded the final versions – ready to use, in every language, with the design fully intact.
This is something I always try to explain to clients: the most efficient localisation process is not necessarily about using specific tools. It’s about understanding where the content already lives and adapting the workflow accordingly. Whether that’s Canva, InDesign, a CMS, or something else entirely, the goal is always the same: a complete, professional, market-ready output with as little friction as possible.