In an increasingly interconnected world, design is essential in making environments welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for people from all walks of life. Designing for multicultural environments isn’t just about translation; it’s about understanding the deeper layers of culture, communication, and context.

To explore this subject, we spoke with Robert Canak, Managing Partner at the Croatia office of Modulex. His personal and professional background gives him a unique perspective on navigating multicultural contexts in design.

A Life Between Cultures

“For me, it started from birth,” Robert shares. “As a child from a mixed marriage, I was exposed to bilingual environments from the beginning. But ‘bilingual’ went beyond language; it meant navigating two sets of cultural references, values, aesthetics, and habits.”

This kind of upbringing has profoundly influenced his design approach, particularly when it comes to inclusive visual communication.

What Defines a Multicultural Environment?

According to Robert, multicultural design is not limited to specific regions or settings. Many environments we encounter daily—like airports, hotels, resorts, and stadiums—are inherently multicultural.

“These spaces serve both permanent users (like staff) and transient users (like travellers, guests, or fans) from different nationalities, faiths, and languages,” he explains. “Signage in these places tends to be highly utilitarian and precisely designed to ensure clear and fast information delivery.”

Robert highlights how global events like the Olympics or the World Cup present unique multicultural design challenges. “A great example is Min Wang’s pictogram system for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which was inspired by ancient Chinese stone carvings. It embedded local cultural DNA into an otherwise global communication tool.”

Designing with Cultural Sensitivity

Designing for diverse audiences requires more than just translation; it calls for intentional and respectful integration of cultural norms and visual language.

“Whenever possible, I look for ways to respectfully weave in elements of local culture, whether through colours, materials, iconography, or typographic choices – while always preserving legibility and universality,” Robert explains.

Even small gestures matter. “In Middle Eastern projects, a small but meaningful adjustment might be designing a female pictogram with a slightly longer dress to reflect modest dress norms. These thoughtful touches go a long way in signalling respect.”

Balancing Creativity with Cultural Awareness

Robert believes creativity and cultural sensitivity are not at odds—they can enrich each other. “Respecting cultural sensitivities starts with research, empathy, and attention to details that may seem minor but speak volumes to local users.”

He finds beauty in embedding local patterns, symbols, or even traditional fabrication methods into wayfinding systems in subtle but meaningful ways. “If a certain colour has strong cultural or religious associations in a region, we either lean into it meaningfully or avoid it if it might be misinterpreted.”

Where the Industry is Heading

A noticeable shift in the design world is an increasing embrace of cultural storytelling and localisation. “Designers are increasingly conscious of incorporating traditional materials, fabrication techniques, patterns, or colour palettes without overwhelming the clarity or usability of the information,” Robert observes.

He believes the most successful projects come from combining universal design principles with thoughtful cultural nuance: “To me, that’s the future.”

Robert’s final advice is simple but powerful: design with humility, curiosity, and care. “Start with the assumption that every place has a story—and that people notice when you honour that story in your design. Read, travel, observe, and most importantly, ask. Speak with locals, understand the sensitivities, and test your assumptions.”

And perhaps his most memorable reminder:

“Clarity is never the enemy of cultural depth. The best designs are the ones that make everyone feel seen, without anyone getting lost.”