What are the differences between UI and UX

Last edited on May 27, 2021 by Digitiz

When it comes to product design, the terms UX and UI are frequently used. Despite the fact that these two words are not new, people in the digital product design industry sometimes use them interchangeably, and often incorrectly. In this article, we will look at the meaning of the terms UX and UI, as well as the differences between the two.

What is UX?

L’UX Design refers to all the experiences a person has when interacting with a product. User experience includes all aspects of the end user’s interaction with the company, its services and products. We also sometimes talk about interactive design.

User persona

User research is the first step in user experience design. UX Design designers need to understand their target audience and determine exactly what they want from the product they are designing. THE personas are created by UX designers as they gain this understanding.

The user journey

Users’ emotions when interacting with a product, whether negative, neutral or positive, have a significant impact on their perception of the product. Therefore, the concept of user journey has become the cornerstone of user experience design.

What makes good user experience (UX) design?

In his book Designing for Emotion, Aarron Walter created a visual pyramid of user needs to help readers understand what constitutes a good experience. This pyramid has become a resource for UX professionals seeking guidance on how to think about and apply design decisions, they are:

  • Functional
  • Reliable
  • Usable
  • Pleasant

What is UI?

L’user interface (UI) is where humans and machines interact. It allows users to efficiently use a machine to complete a task or achieve a specific goal, such as making a purchase or downloading an application.

User interfaces consist of input hardware, such as a keyboard or mouse, and output hardware, such as a display or audio speaker. Input and output devices work together so users can fully control the machine. There are many types of user interfaces. The three most common user interfaces are command line interface (CLI), graphical user interface (GUI), and voice user interface (VUI).

CLI (Command Line Interface)

In the 1970s, people interacted with computers using command line interfaces. The interactions were linear: the user (operator) typed a command and the machine responded by displaying a message on the monitor. As users need to understand machine language to interact with computers, the complexity of this interaction was quite high.

GUI (graphical user interface)

Graphical user interface (GUI) is a type of user interface that allows users to visually interact with digital products. When interacting with a GUI, users navigate through a series of pages or screens that contain static and active elements, such as text and buttons.

Voice user interfaces

Voice user interfaces (VUIs), which allow the user’s voice to interact with a system, are closest to UI zero. Recent advances in natural language processing (NLP) have enabled the creation of intelligent AI-powered systems, such as Amazon Alexa.

The Characteristics of a Well-Designed User Interface

Whatever UI you create, you should always make sure it has the following characteristics:

  • Clarity : It’s essential ! Users should not have to decode the meaning of a specific element.
  • Familiarity : When users interact with your product, they can use their previous experience through your UI.
  • Continuity : Users can recognize usage patterns if your interface is consistent across your product.
  • Indulgence : A good user interface forgives users for their mistakes.
  • Efficiency : A good user interface allows users to provide as little information as possible in order to achieve the desired result.

What is the relationship between UI and UX?

The role of the UX designer

In a nutshell, UX design is a human-centered approach to product design. UX design is a multidisciplinary field in which a designer or UX Design agency may work on various aspects of product development such as research, ideation, prototyping and testing. Typical UX designer responsibilities include:

  • Understanding Users: UX design usually begins with in-depth research aimed at understanding the target audience.
  • Develop a design strategy: Understand the purpose of a product and map out a logical path.
  • Analyze interaction: Study how people interact with products, their habits, personal preferences and user interface shortcuts.
  • Create wireframes and prototypes: They are frequently required to create wireframes or prototypes in order to present their ideas.
  • UX designers are constantly involved in product execution. They communicate with all team members to ensure the product design is on track.

The role of the UI designer

The role of user interface designers is more about the visual representation of information. To create good-looking interfaces, UI designers must have skills in graphic design, visual design, and brand design. Being a good designer involves a number of things, including the following:

  • Pay attention to details
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • a competitive analysis
  • Responsive design
  • Communication

Role of UI/UX

Because the definitions of UX and UI are very similar, many companies consider UI and UX design to be one and the same position. The description for such a position typically states that the person will work on the conceptual and practical aspects of user interactions before transferring that knowledge into the actual user interface design.

In reality, it is one and the same person who wears two hats at the same time. Each role requires a unique set of skills and methods. Even if a single person has all the required skills, this mix of disciplines is not desirable because it makes the design process less focused and does not allow for perspective.

Conclusion

We hope you now understand the subtle distinctions between user interface design and user interface design. They are similar but not identical. UX is more analytical in nature. It finds its origins in cognitive behavior and human psychology. On the other hand, visual aspects, whether a product is aesthetically pleasing, are much more important in the UI. Having hands-on experience in both fields will not only help you determine which field is best for you, but also help you become a better designer.