The abbreviations UI and UX design are used more often than others in the IT industry. These concepts are associated with the development of the interface, so they are trendy among digital specialists. Despite their relevance, many programmers still may not understand the differences between UI and UX. They are often combined into one concept, although they are two different areas of activity. UI and UX may work on the same project, but they are responsible for various processes. To understand what these IT representatives do, it is necessary to compare UI and UX design and find their differences.
Who Is UX Designer
UX is the user experience of interacting with an app or website. The more convenient the interface, the faster the person will complete the target action. The experience comprises graphic design, platform architecture, clear text, and usability.
A UX specialist is a designer who develops the logic of a site based on the behavior and experience of people. Its main task is to think over the logical arrangement of blocks and buttons so that any user can easily interact with the application. According to Financeonline, a good UX design increases a website’s conversion rate up to 200%. Products designed with user preferences in mind are easy to use and positively impact your potential audience.
A user experience designer needs to have essential skills: the basics of graphic design, social research, software development. Their responsibilities usually include:
- conducting user surveys;
- creating a portrait of the target audience;
- software prototype development;
- creation of a logical chain of product use;
- testing, making changes;
- analysis of results.
The right UX design will come about when the specialist working on it conducts large-scale beta tests with real users and analyzes their habits to simplify the functionality in the interface structure.
Who Is UI Designer
UI is the work on the visual design of digital products. Since the software interface must be attractive and selling, the goal of the UI is to create intuitive and logically connected visual elements. The user interface aims to get a product that can satisfy the aesthetic preferences of the audience.
UI designers are some of the most creative people in the IT industry, as they make the interface look beautiful. This specialist helps the potential client understand how to use the product and feel its color, shape, and texture. The key responsibilities of a UI designer are:
- designing custom pages and screens;
- harmonization of graphic elements with corporate style;
- drawing details on screens;
- preparation of a manual for creating a software product;
- layout.
The UI designer is usually responsible for creating a complete design guide, which provides a cohesive design language that spans the entire product. This specialist coordinates the visual elements and decides what the user will see (displayed errors, warnings, chats, etc.).
What's the Difference Between UX and UI
UX and UI are essential components when creating a profitable product. They work in close cooperation, affecting the appearance of the software and its functionality. But still, these two directions have differences that do not allow to combine these concepts into one.
Appearance and Feel
UX and UI designers always work in the same team and on a joint project, but at the same time, they are responsible for different areas. UX specialists are accountable for the user's experience while on the site or in the application. They focus on how a potential client will feel while browsing the platform's pages and encourage a person to take the necessary action for the business (click on a button, follow a link, leave a comment, etc.).
UI designers are responsible for the platform's appearance and are engaged in its visual component. They focus on how convenient it will be for a person to use the software and whether he wants to be on the page for a long time. These specialists do not analyze user experience like UX designers do - they work to get a beautiful website with the correct arrangement of all the details.
User Request and Product Design
UX designers focus on the potential audience and study their behavior on different platforms. After this analysis, they can create a UX strategy based on functional interactions and emotional responses throughout the user journey. One of the tasks of this digital specialist is to delve into the process of thinking of a person to understand his current needs.
UI designers are also called upon to influence the user through the software interface. But they connect all the data from UX and create a website or app layout that will encourage people to interact with the platform. Everything that you see on the pages of the software (graphics, illustrations, corporate design) is created by UI designers.
Functions and Interactions
As the UX designers work on the software's functionality, they interact with developers, business analysts, and marketers. Through this collaboration, they define the target audience, conduct competitor analysis, and improve the user experience in their product.
After all the research with colleagues, UX draws wireframes to illustrate elements, content, and user interaction. They then prototype from the wireframes, adding a functional information architecture, and pass them on to the UI. It is not the end of their work on the project, and they continue to consult and coordinate.
UI specialists at all stages of work contact mainly only with UX and programmers to test and leave feedback about the product until its final version. Because they help developers understand a project, UI designers create high-fidelity reference guides and layouts with responsive guidelines and define animations and transitions.
Why Does a Software Project Needs UX and UI
Although UX and UI are different concepts, they are aimed at one common goal. Therefore, it is essential to have two of these specialists in the project or one person engaged in two directions at once. The UX designer will take responsibility for the functionality and navigation of the site. The UI will draw all the details to pass them on to the programmer's development.
Such digital workers are needed in a software project because it dramatically influences the conversion of a site or application. The higher the level of software usability, the more convenient it is for visitors. A potential client should quickly find the information they need, not get confused in the functionality and structure, and at the same time get aesthetic pleasure from interacting with the resource. When using a web resource is inconvenient, visitors will quickly leave it and go to competitors.
To create a quality interface, UX and UI are equally important. The UX designer builds the order of interaction with the product and pushes the user to action. The UI designer comes up with an external representation of steps and paths to achieve the goal. Separately, the directions are responsible for different areas of the interface. Together, they allow you to create a genuinely high-quality website - with an attractive design, good usability, and proper SEO.
