Situation
A metropolitan local authority’s public health communications team needed to launch a region-wide campaign addressing a seasonal health risk affecting high-density residential areas. The campaign materials — comprising a two-sided A5 leaflet, a poster, and an SMS message template — had to reach communities across twelve language groups before a fixed publication date tied to a regional public health advisory. Marcus, the authority’s communications lead, had a confirmed print slot and distribution schedule that could not move.
For more on LingvoHouse’s public sector translation services, see the public sector translation overview.
Challenge
The authority required twelve languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin Chinese, Somali, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu, Romanian, Bengali, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese — several of which involve right-to-left typesetting. The source documents were supplied as InDesign files with embedded imagery, and the print deadline gave the translation and layout team fewer than 72 hours from brief to print-ready file. The SMS template had a strict character limit that varied by language, requiring translators to condense messaging without losing meaning or health-critical instructions.
Approach
LingvoHouse received the brief and assessed the file set within the first hour. A dedicated project manager coordinated twelve specialist translators simultaneously, each assigned to a single language to avoid sequencing delays. The InDesign source files were prepared for translation using a structured handoff process, with text extracted into editable format and returned to layout only after sign-off at the translation stage — consistent with LingvoHouse’s ISO 17100-certified review workflow.
Right-to-left languages were handled by translators with DTP awareness, and each language version was checked against the original layout before being returned to the client as a print-ready PDF. The SMS templates were translated with character counts flagged per language so Marcus’s team could confirm compliance before the message went live. Progress was communicated at agreed intervals throughout the 72-hour window.
Outcome
All twelve language versions of the leaflet, poster, and SMS template were delivered to the authority’s communications team ahead of the print deadline. The files were accepted by the print supplier without amendment. The authority was able to proceed with its distribution schedule as planned, with all community language materials ready for simultaneous release alongside the English-language campaign. No revisions were requested following delivery.
What This Demonstrates
- ISO 17100-certified translation workflow applied to time-sensitive public health communications across twelve languages
- Simultaneous multi-translator coordination managed by a single dedicated project manager
- DTP handling for multilingual InDesign and PDF files, including right-to-left typesetting
- Character-constrained translation for SMS formats with per-language compliance checking
- Secure file handling and structured review process under ISO 9001-certified quality management
Work With LingvoHouse on a Similar Project
Public sector communications teams working to tight publication deadlines across multiple community languages are welcome to discuss requirements with LingvoHouse. Whether the project involves a single document or a full campaign pack, a no-obligation quote is available at lingvohouse.com.
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Multilingual Leaflet & Brochure Translation for Local Authorities
