UI vs UX Design: Main Differences That Each Designer Should Know
In the realm of digital design, the terms UI and UX are used frequently as synonyms. However, they belong to two different fields, each having different objectives, methods, and skills. The significance of knowing the UI vs UX is very critical while working as a designer or a product manager of any digital product used and enjoyed by the user.
What is UI Design?
UI, which stands for User Interface, has to do with the appearance of the object and how the user interacts with this visual appearance. This involves such things as buttons, font, color schemes, icons, spacing, and animations. The UI designer takes the concept of UX and creates something pretty and functional out of it.
A UI designer aims for simplicity, consistency, and hierarchy. Their design efforts must not only be aesthetically pleasing but also easy to use. Good UI design is essential for the user because it helps the user clearly see what actions they can perform and which direction they need to take next.
What Is UX Design?
UX, or User Experience design, involves the feel, look, and functionality of the product from the user’s side. It involves problem-solving, ensuring that the user can attain their objective in an effective, frustration-free manner. The UX designer acts in the background, analyzing the user, carrying out research, developing user journeys, and prototyping.
A UX designer will ask the following questions: Is the product user-friendly? Is the product solving the user’s problem? Is the process intuitive? The response to the above questions is collected through user interviews, user testing, analyzing data, and then refining. The process of designing a UX begins before there is an interface and is an ongoing process after the product is developed.
What are the Differences Between UI and UX Designers?
First and foremost, the distinction exists in terms of purpose. For example, while UX is focused on experience and usability, UI is all about presentation and interaction. Another way that the difference can be explained is that while the role of UX is answering questions of “why” and “how,” the role of UI is answering the question of “what.”
There is another difference. UX design usually precedes UI design, establishing product structure and flow. Then, UI design refines product visualization and interaction, building upon the UX design. Yet, sometimes UX and UI design can be similar, as they can develop simultaneously.
Why a Harmony of UI and UX is a Necessity As
If a product boasts amazing graphics and yet fails because it is confusing to use, or if a product with amazing functionality fails to appeal because its user interface is outdated and unattractive, the result is clearly a product design failure. Successful digital product design is about achieving a blend between UI and UX design.
When UI and UX design is done hand-in-hand, the end result is always an experience that feels very organic and engaging. This is always linked to increased user satisfaction and overall retention of the end product.
Conclusion
Both UI design and UX design are different but equally important processes. While user experience design sets the foundation by understanding user behavior patterns, user interface design transforms it all in terms of graphical user interface. For designers, understanding both UI design and UX design, as they complement each other perfectly, can be the first step in creating designs that are simply unique.
