What’s the difference between UI and UX Design?

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design are two sides of the same coin. While the two are closely related fields (and if you only have one product person on your team, they might fill both roles), but they are not the same thing. UI design focuses on the visual and interactive elements of a digital product, while UX design focuses on the overall user experience, including how easy and enjoyable it is to use the product.

What is UX Design?

UX design is the process of designing the overall user experience of a digital product. UX designers focus on understanding the needs and goals of users, and then designing interfaces that are easy and enjoyable to use.

Let’s consider a non-technical proxy to UX design. Imagine you were an architect re-designing a grocery store. You’d probably begin by asking frequent customers what they came to buy or what they thought of the current layout. If one particular item was super popular, you’d put that somewhere easy to find. The concern for flow and shopper experience is exactly what architects think about in the physical world and what UX designers are focused on in the digital world.

Some of the key tasks of a UX designer include:

• Conducting user research to understand user needs and goals

• Creating user personas to represent different types of users

• Designing user flows to map out how users will interact with the product

• Testing the user experience to identify and fix any usability problems

What is UI Design?

UI design is the process of creating the visual and interactive elements of a digital product, such as the screens, buttons, icons, and menus. UI designers work to create interfaces that are both visually appealing and easy to use.

Heading back to the grocery store, your architect has handed you beautiful blueprints of what the new layout will be. Now as an interior designer, you get to make those layouts come to life. You’re designing engaging end caps and ways to display produce. The concern for finish, interest, and ensuring users can achieve their desired ends through your product are what interior designers engage with in the physical world and what UI designers do in the digital one.

Some of the key tasks of a UI designer include:

• Creating wireframes and prototypes to visualize the user interface

• Choosing color palettes, fonts, and other visual elements

• Designing interactive elements, such as buttons, menus, and forms

• Testing the user interface to ensure that it is usable and accessible

How UI and UX Design Work Together

As mentioned earlier, UI and UX design are two sides of the same coin - they can’t be separated if you’re intending to produce a complete product. UI design focuses on the visual and interactive elements of a product, while UX design focuses on the overall user experience. However, the two disciplines work together to create products that are both beautiful and easy to use.

For example, a UI designer might create a button that is visually appealing and easy to tap. However, the UX designer would also need to consider how the button is placed on the screen and how it fits into the overall user flow. The button should be placed in a location where it is easy to find and tap, and it should be clear what happens when the user taps it.

Combining UX and UI for Better Products

UI and UX design are two essential disciplines for creating successful digital products. By understanding the difference between the two disciplines, and the value each brings to the quality of your product, you are on your way to creating products that are both visually appealing and easy to use.