It is quite rare to read and listen to the words UI & UX design separately. Mostly, they are written together and spoken of together too. But does that make them the same? Certainly not.
UI & UX design may be two faces of a coin, conjoined together to form one solid object, but there are far more differences than an I and an X. What are those differences? Lets us find out!
UI design refers to the user interface and primarily deals with the visuals of a website, application, or any other electronic device. UI design includes buttons, icons, toggles, screens, and all other kinds of visual elements that the users interact with. The UI design components have a big impact on how people engage with the system. It is also interesting to note that the UI has a great impact on the UX aspect of design.
UX design, on the other hand, is the whole user experience that the users have with your company’s products and services. It refers to the entire journey of the user when they interact with a product or service. The process of selecting goods and services to give people worthwhile experiences is at the heart of UX design. Branding, function, usability, and design, all fall under the umbrella of UX design.
It is also interesting to note that the entire journey of the user’s interaction with the product and service falls under UX design. From the introduction to developing interest, from solving user problems to providing information. Everything is a mix of providing users with an experience that leaves them feeling content and happy. And that is exactly the whole point of UX design.
Differences between UI & UX design:
Although UI & UX designers work closely most of the time, there is often confusion that their work is the same and whether they work the same way. Even though they depict different aspects of the same product/service design, there are still major differences that set them apart.
Firstly, UI design deals with the look of the product or service, the interface, and its functionality. While UX design deals with the overall feel and the experience of the user within the product parameters.
Secondly, UI design also deals with the overall design aspect of the product including key elements of design and elements that influence user engagement. UX design, on the other hand, focuses on prototyping. UX design is all about creating prototypes, and wireframes, that form the basic structure of the website and the flow of services.
And lastly, UI design is deeply responsible for the details of the product. It is all about the buttons, icons, pages, and interaction of the users. UI design is profoundly concentrated on making sure that the elements, on which the whole user experience is based, are well-polished and highly functional.
Now that we have briefly described the key differences between UI & UX design, it is fair to discuss them both in depth. Let us do exactly that, shall we?
UI Design:
The UI design is responsible for the specific details of the product/service’s interface. The choice of typefaces, the inclusion of components, and the order of pages to guarantee that the brand’s message gets to the users all fall under the category of user interface design. The UI design sees to the fact that the product/service is not only aesthetically appealing but also highly functional.
Other things fall under the umbrella of UI design, let us have a look:
The Creation of Brand:
While there is a swarm of brands in the market, it is a task on its own to distinguish your brand from the rest. Here is exactly where UI design comes into play. The brand’s products/services do not only have to be aesthetically appealing but also be able to achieve a high level of usability. The UI designer is in charge of creating the brand’s style guidelines and maintaining high design standards. They are also in charge of making sure that the design style of the brand is implemented consistently throughout the products and services.
The Visual Design:
UI design is also responsible for optimizing all of the digital features that contribute to the visually pleasing and highly useful nature of the digital product/service. These include typography, color, buttons, design elements, and a great interface. The UI designers design buttons and other elements of the website. And they cater to the parts and features of the website/service. As well as the typefaces that should be employed
Interactive Design:
Animations, interactive elements, and animated buttons are also part of the interactive design and fall under UI design. UI designers create animations for different elements on a page. They also develop all the interactive elements like photos and videos. And lastly, the movement of the content when the users interact with it also falls under the supervision of UI designers.
A Responsive Design:
It is never essential to solely use smartphones or displays to access digital goods and services. They are viewed across a wide range of digital electronics. And that is exactly why a responsive design is highly mandatory. The design of the digital product/service has to be accessible through different devices. And the design of the product/service has to be equally interesting and engaging on different sizes of devices. It is mandatory for UI designers to create designs and layouts that are flexible, resizable vector elements, and manage responsive designs.
Now let us hop on to UX design’s details.
UX Design:
UX design primarily includes developing a strategy, development, testing, prototyping, and implementation and analysis of the digital product/service. Other than that UX design is also responsible for the strategy of creating content, coordination, and analysis.
It is only fair to discuss these in detail too, so here we go.
Creating Content Strategy:
The creation of content strategy deals with the planning, creation, and execution of the content on the digital product/service. The content includes text, images, photographs, videos, and other multimedia elements that will be included in the product/service. The world is evolving and businesses focus more on providing customers with exactly what they are looking for. That is exactly why UX designers also focus on content strategy and basing their products/services around them. They conduct thorough customer analyses and audits. And based on that they devise a plan that works best for the brand they are working for.
Prototyping and Testing:
Another important aspect of UX design is prototyping and testing. The designs are please check numerous times to make sure there is no flaw or inaccuracy and that there is no possibility of a glitch. Additionally, several tests also result in several necessary improvements. And done well in time to ensure the smooth execution of a product/service. The tests are done on button placements, the layout of the text, and different design elements. Also, deep testing is conducted of the wireframes of the basic design structure, and prototypes.
Analysis:
Due to the various components that make up UX design, a vast number of people make up the UX design team. They coordinate with all of them to ensure smooth workflow as the work is also much broader. And larger level. The UX designers also focus on planning, strategizing, and analyzing different projects for execution. They are responsible for planning and scrutinizing existing designs. And also tracking the performance of the existing designs to make sure there is room for improvement in the future.
Research:
The entire structure of the UX design is based on the research that is conducted to identify the problems associated with a certain design and how to overcome them. The research takes the shape of questions, surveys, focus groups, prototype testing, and other methods. Conducting the right kind of, and thorough research has a great impact on the work done for the digital product/service and the results of the digital product/service. The UX designers are further responsible for designing appropriate research instruments and conducting the research. And analyzing the data for their benefit and use.
Conclusion:
UI & UX design are the two main components that help the boat stay afloat and make it to the shore. Without one, the other fails. It is always necessary to differentiate between the two. While also making sure that they work in complete harmony to make the digital product/service a success.
