Do You Know Chinese?

Thought I would update you with some work in progress. I was hired to create packaging for a new meal replacement and supplement company. The two images above are a couple of the product lines that I created last month. I enjoy developing new packaging because I started in the design biz as a package designer in my early 20’s. It was for a pet food company and I loved it. I learned everything about packaging, POP, photo shoots, designing ads, printing, etc. It was an invaluable learning experience that prepared me for the advertising industry which I got into a few years later.

I now have these product lines back in my job list. Why? Because I need to make it bilingual. I have made bilingual packaging before for English/Spanish and English/French. But never for Chinese! I included a snapshot of the Nutrition Facts panel I worked on today so you can see what I’m talking about. Next I have to add the translation to the front panel designs. I like to start with the hardest part first, which I believed to be the supplement panels. I don’t look forward to these when they’re only in English!

Not knowing whether I have the correct translation in the proper spots is nerve-wracking! Especially when you’re a lowly freelancer like me who is working by herself. Nobody to whine to and get sympathy (or help) from! After I got the foreign fonts working rightfully, it was not so bad.

Still and all, I’m not whining. (However, I will welcome any sympathy.) I am appreciative that I’m able to work for myself, and have been for over a decade. As a self-employed person since 2002, I don’t believe I could work for someone else again. Well, except for Eric. He’s a pretty good boss. Unorganized and does not pay me what I’m worth, but nobody’s perfect. Right?

comments

6 Replies to “Do You Know Chinese?”

  1. Lynne, you have my deepest sympathy! After living 25 years in a heavily populated Asian community on Oahu, all I can say is Good Morning on Japanese! Lol translating to Chinese is tough work. Good for you girl! You can do it!

    1. Thanks Joanne H. !! But I need to point out that I am not doing the translation. It’s been translated and I need to transfer it to the packaging. With French and Spanish packaging, I usually can tell whether I have the translated copy in the correct spot but not this time. It’s all chicken scratch to me!

    1. On all bilingual packaging, you get sheets from a translator and you sort of try to figure it out. Mostly, they match it up so it’s easy and sometimes to mix it up too much. It’s easy to figure out for the most part.

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