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The Top Differences Between UX Designer and UI Designer

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By Natalia JanePublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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The difference between User experience (UX) and User interface (UI) can be frustratingly blurred. The terms are often used interchangeably, and usually in an incorrect sense. In fact, UX and UI are so commonly confused for each other that even the industries that employ them will frequently interchange the professions.

To really understand the differences between a UI designer and a UX designer we must first understand the difference between UI and UX.

The term 'User Interface' is actually older than 'User Experience'. UI was initially used around the same time as the first commercial computers while UX, on the other hand, was first coined in 1993 by Don Norman at Apple. The terms were not concieved at the same; this is a major reason for such confusion. Since they were coined in different periods and not clearly delineated at inception, much overlap has emerged in their meanings.

The Difference Between UI and UX

The differences between the two, then, is not completely clarified. In the design world, there still exists debate in regards to where one line ends and the other begins.

UI is a part of UX. As the name indicates, user interface designers are primarily concerned with the interface of a digital product. They create and decide the typography, images, and other visual design elements that the user engages with to interact with the digital product.

While UI designers are focused on the relative minutiae, UX designers are not. "UX design is about understanding the overall journey of your users and turning it into a product.'' says Jonathan Widawski, CEO at Mazes. It is the entire experience a user has with your product from start to finish. A user experience, therefore, is made up of a sequence of User Interfaces. The overall perception of the charm and usability of the synergy of multiple interfaces make up the User Experience.

Role of a UX Designer

A UX designer, then, focuses on the bigger picture; He/she attends to the complete experience, which may not be limited to the screen. Steve Jobs famously included even the experience of going to the apple store as a part of UX.

To become a good UI UX designer, he/she must understand what it feels like to be in the customer's shoes. They must ask, 'How can I help the customer achieve their goals in the most delightful, straightforward and painless way possible?’ Based on this understanding, they decide what the digital product will look and feel like.

Thus, they will engage in activities such as determining the target audience, interviewing customers, and conducting task analyses to see how users interact with their product and accomplish their goals.

Role of a UI Designer

A UI designer takes the rough blueprint developed by the UX designer and adds visual design to make it usable and aesthetically appealing. They conduct design research, determine the product layout and develop the visual elements of the interface such as fonts, icons, buttons, colour schemes, spacing and imagery.

They must also make sure that their design and representations are congruent with the brand image. A funky graffiti-like font will not fit well for a company like McKinsey, who want to come across as professional and competent. Likewise, an overly bland and common font might not fit with an energy drink company like Monster, who target the younger demographic and attempt to convey a vibrant, zestful image.

While the UX design process focuses broadly on the psychology and behaviour of users and attempts to address the pain points that users encounter along their journey with the product, the UI design process focuses on the actual appearance and sensation of the product. They populate the design with visual and interactive elements focusing more on interactivity, animation and aesthetic appeal.

While the terms may have been confusing to you before, as it is for most people even in the digital industry, I hope reading this article has clarified the differences between the two. Ultimately, UX and UI are incomplete without each other.

As Rahul Varshney, co-creator of Foster.fm says: “A UI without UX is like a painter slapping paint onto a canvas without thought; while UX without UI is like the frame of a sculpture with no paper mache on it. A great product experience starts with UX followed by UI. Both are essential for the product’s success.”

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About the Creator

Natalia Jane

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