You might notice that, even though we referenced technology in my introduction, this definition does not mention digital or UX.
It also only says a little about the actual work of a UX designer. Like all professions, summing up the entire process in a few short words can be challenging. UX Design is about interactions between potential and active customers and companies.
It can make anything, from street lamps to cars, Ikea shelves, etc.
UX designers consider how an experience affects the user and whether its easy for them to complete their tasks.
They observe and perform task analyses to determine how users meet functions within a user flow. How easy is it to shop online? How easily can you grip the vegetable peeler? Is it easy to manage your money with your online banking application? The UX design team aims to provide users with an enjoyable, easy-to-use, and relevant experience.
In section four, well address the question of "What is a UX Designer?" in greater detail. Heres a quick overview of UX design:
- The process of improving and developing the interaction between the user and the company is called User Experience Design.
- Theoretically, user experience design is a non-digital practice (cognitive sciences), but its used and defined primarily by digital industries.
- UX design is not about visuals. It focuses on the overall experience.
UX in Digital Applications
The term was invented in the early 1990s, and its usage has remained almost exclusively within the digital field.
This is because the tech industry exploded around that time.
UX is a term that applies to everything you can experience, whether its a website or a trip to the grocery store.
The "user experience," or interaction between a user and a service or product, is what we refer to as the "user experience." The user experience design considers the various elements that influence this experience.
What is User Interface (UI) Design?
The wide range of "User Interface Design" interpretations makes it difficult to answer, although this is an older field.
User interface design complements user experience. It is concerned with the appearance, feel, and interaction of the product.
UI designers are often misunderstood by industries that hire them, and different job descriptions will refer to their profession in completely different ways.
You will find that most job ads and descriptions for user interface design solutions are similar to graphic design. They may even extend to branding and front-end development. You will find that most "expert" descriptions of User Interface Design decisions are identical to User Experience Design.
They even use the same structural techniques.
Digital Application of UI
Lets put the record straight. User interface design, unlike UX, is strictly a digital term.
A user interface is a point of interaction between a user and a product or digital device. For example, the touchscreen of your smartphone or the pad you use to choose the type of coffee from the coffee machine.
UI design concerns the appearance, feel, and interactivity of websites and apps. The user interface should be as intuitive as it can be. This means that every visual and interactive element the user may encounter must also be considered carefully.
A UI designer considers icons, buttons, typography, color schemes, images, and responsive design. User interface design is also a challenging and multi-faceted role.
Its responsible for transforming a products research, layout, and content into an appealing, responsive, and guiding user experience. In section four, well examine the UI design and task process. Lets briefly recap what user interface design (UI) is about before looking at the differences between UX and UI.
- The practice of user interface design is exclusively digital. It includes all visual and interactive elements in a products interface, including buttons, icon spacing, typography color schemes, and responsive design.
- The goal of UI is to guide users visually through a product interface. The goal is to create an intuitive interface that only requires users to think a little.
- UI design is the process of transferring a brands strengths and visual assets to a product interface. It ensures that the inclusive design is consistent and coherent, and aesthetically pleasing.
Lets Look at the Main Differences Between Ux and Ui Now That We Have a Definition
What is the Difference Between Ux Design and Ui?
Its a good analogy to describe the different components of a digital product. Imagine a product like a human body.
The bones are the code that gives it its structure. Organs are UX design, measuring, and optimizing input to support life functions. UI design is the aesthetics of the human body, including its appearance, senses, and reactions.
"User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) are two of the most misunderstood and confused terms in our industry.
A UI without UX would be like a painter slapping on paint to a canvas with no thought, while UX without UI would be like the frame of a statue without any paper mache. UX is the first step in creating a great product experience, followed by UI. "Both are vital for the success of the product."
"UI is the seat, the stirrups, and the reins." UX is that feeling of being able to ride a horse. You cant have UX without UI.
UX designers dont have to know UI design to be UX designers, and vice-versa. UX and UI are two separate roles with different processes and tasks. UX design leads focuses on the users overall experience, whereas UI design focuses on the interfaces and how they look.
UX designers consider the entire user journey when solving a problem. What steps do they take to get there? What are the tasks they must complete? How easy is it to use? Their work largely focuses on identifying the problems and pains that users face and how certain products can solve them.
They will conduct extensive research on users to determine who their target audience is and what they need about the product.
Then, theyll map out the users journey through a product. They will consider things like the information architecture, i.e.
how content is organized, labeled, and categorized across the product, and what features the user may need. Theyll then create wireframes, which are the blueprints of the product.
The UI designer brings the skeleton to life. The UI designer considers all visual aspects of a users journey.
This includes all screens and touchpoints the user may encounter. Think about tapping a button or scrolling through an image gallery.
The UX designer maps the journey; the UI designer focuses on the details to make it possible. UI design doesnt just have to be about aesthetics.
UI designers can make a big difference in whether or not a particular product is accessible.
Our guide on UI design for accessibility will answer questions such as "What color combinations are best to cater to colorblindness?" or "How can we use different color combinations to create contrast and improve readability?"
UX design is all about identifying and solving user problems. UI design is all about creating intuitive, aesthetically-pleasing, interactive interfaces.
UX design is usually the first step in product development, followed by UI. The UX designer outlines the barebones of the users journey, and the UI designer fills in the visual and interactive elements.
UX is applicable to all products, services, and experiences; UI is only for digital products and experiences.
How to Do UX And UI Design Interact?
Now that weve looked at the differences between UX & UI lets see how they work together. Its possible that you wonder if UX or UI is more important, but in reality, they are both vital! Let me quote Helga Moreno, who, in her article on The Gap between UX and UI Design, put it very eloquently:
"Something that looks great, but is difficult for users to use, is an example of a great UI with poor UX." "Something that is very usable but looks horrible is an example of good UX and bad UI."
Related:- Is UX Design and Web Development Same?
Imagine how much better products would have been if they had excelled in both areas. UI design is the icing that goes on top of UX.
Imagine that you have an idea for an app. Its something that is clearly lacking in the market, and it could change peoples lives for the better. You hire a UX Designer to help you conduct user research and figure out what features and user journeys your app should include.
The text in your app is not legible. (Think of the yellow text against a white background.) The buttons are also too close to each other, and they often hit the wrong one by accident! This is a classic example of bad UI ruining what could have been a good UX.
Have you ever found a website that looks amazing but is a pain to use, despite the stunning animations and perfect color scheme? Its the same as picking up a beautiful cake but finding out that it tastes terrible when you bite into it.
In todays highly competitive market, it is essential to get both aspects of product design right. Its important to understand both UX and UI design because you will be working with each other.
And web development company also prefer UI/UX teams.
UX Tasks And Responsibilities
We now understand, in the abstract, the role of a UX designer. But how do we translate this into daily tasks? This is an example of the typical duties and tasks of a UX Designer.
This guide provides a detailed description of the UX Design Process.
Content And Strategy:
- Analysis of competitors.
- Customer analysis and user research.
- Product structure and strategy.
- Content development.
Wireframing & Prototyping:
- Wireframing.
- Prototyping.
- Testing and iteration.
- Development planning.
Analyze And Execute:
- Coordinating with UI designers.
- Coordination with developers.
- Tracking and integration of goals.
- Iterative UX design and analysis.
The UX role, which is part marketer and part designer as well as part-project manager, is multifaceted, complex, and challenging.
The role of the UX Designer varies greatly depending on what type of company the designer works for. It is true that the iteration of a product, as it relates to testing or analysis, has been mentioned twice. However, in reality, you would place it between each item in the list.
The ultimate goal is to link business goals with users needs by using a process of testing, refinement, and user feedback.
UI Tasks And Responsibilities
You may be interested in UI Design if you enjoy the idea of creating amazing user experiences but you are a visual person.
Below youll find a snapshot of UI designers key tasks. This guide will provide a more detailed explanation of what a UI Designer does.
The Products Appearance And Feel:
- Customer Analysis.
- Design research.
- Branding and graphic design.
- Storylines and user guides.
Interactivity And Responsiveness:
- UI prototyping.
- Interactivity and Animation.
- Adaptation for all screen sizes.
- Implementation with developers.
The UI designers role is critical to the success of any digital interface. For customers, it is a crucial element in building trust with a brand.
The UI designer is not solely responsible for the brand but for its translation into the product.
The final point is also important, as it outlines the responsibility of "implementation". This will be done by a developer.
This is how UI jobs were done in the past. However, the lines are becoming blurred as "web designer", which is essentially a UI designer who can code, is now being replaced by user interface designers.
While UX does not require coding, UI will, over time, rely on coding to build interactive interfaces. "UI developer" is now a common role within companies.
Weve put together a guide on UI development because it is becoming a common role.
Cost of UI Vs. UX
Cost is influenced by many factors. However, the primary one is:
- Location.
- Experience.
- Industry.
- Project/product type.
Youll find that UI/UX jobs are paid similarly in startups and smaller tech industries. However, youll also find that there are many tech companies outside of the mobile and web fields, such as car manufacturers, medical equipment makers, etc.
There are many more opportunities and more richness for UI designers. The field is more established but also has a direct business application.
Central Europe is a good place to look for both user experience and interface jobs.
Annual:
- Junior level cost EUR28k-EUR33k.
- Cost at Mid-Level EUR38k to EUR45k.
- Cost at Senior Level EUR50k-EUR80k.
Hourly:
- Junior Freelancer EUR30-EUR50.
- Mid-Level Freelancer EUR50 - EUR75.
- Senior Level Consultant EUR75 - EUR100.
Why Are UX/UI Roles Often Advertised as a Single Role?
You may be wondering why so many job advertisements ask for UX/UI Designers in one. In the grand scheme, UI/UX solutions are still a relatively new field.
As mentioned earlier, it tends to be more specific to the tech sector. Theyre not well-known outside of the design and tech worlds, despite their importance for business.
While good design has become increasingly important to businesses, hiring managers and recruiters still tend to think that UX and UI are done by the exact same person.
This is why you may have seen job advertisements with a catch-all description. But its not just a case of misunderstanding. Many companies deliberately look for designers with a wide range of skills who are able to cover both UX & UI or at least understand UX & UI principles.
How can you tell what is really happening? If you are looking for a UI-only role, a purely UX-focused career, or a combination of the two, pay attention to the tasks, responsibilities, and skills listed.
You should be able quickly to tell if a job ad targets both or just one.
UX Vs. UI - How Can You Tell Which One is Better?
Youll want to think about your natural talents and interests if you are interested in pursuing a career as a designer.
UX and UI are both highly collaborative and varied career paths that will put you at the forefront of technology and innovation. There are some differences in the skills and nature of work required.
UX is a career that requires empathy, problem-solving skills, and a creative, analytical approach. UX designers need to have excellent communication skills, as well as a bit of business knowledge.
A career in UI requires a good understanding of user-experience principles. However, it is more focused on visual and interactive design.
You might prefer a career in UI if you have a keen sense of aesthetics and enjoy the idea that technology can be made beautiful, accessible, and user-friendly. If youre interested in a career that combines UI and UX, then there is nothing stopping you from becoming a designer all-rounder.
How Can You Learn UI/UX Design Skills?
There are a few collegiate institutions offering interactive design and visual designing programs. However, it is difficult to find a formal way to learn UI or UX Design for working in tech startups or larger corporations.
You may be fortunate to live in an area with a large number of classes or camps, like the General Assembly, or programs that are hosted by Google or other tech giants.
You can find a wide range of content and courses online for both skills. It is important to check the content and outline of each course to ensure that it matches the definitions in this article.
If structured correctly, platforms such as Udemy and Udacity can be a great way to get started.
You can start by taking advantage of the free UX/UI training courses available. Youll eventually need real training.
We recommend a flexible online course with mentorship that you can do alongside your other commitments, like the UX Design Program or UI design program that we offer.
How To Become A UX/UI Designer?
Bootcamps, traditional degrees, and self-guided options are the three main educational paths for UX/UI designers.
UX/UI Camps
Bootcamps can help anyone get started in a UX/UI career quickly. However, it is difficult to start without any hands-on experience.
A UX/UI Bootcamp will provide you with practical training in design, prototypes, and much more. It can also help you create a portfolio that demonstrates your skills. Anyone who wants to change careers or learn new skills can benefit from this program, even if they are already employed full-time.
Traditional Degrees
A traditional degree is another way to develop UX/UI skills. A traditional degree requires between two and four years full-time (or more if you study part-time) to complete.
The degree program allows the student to explore the theory of UX/UI while sampling other topics.
Self-Guided Options
You can also find a wide variety of self-guided resources to teach UX/UI basics, such as online courses, apps for education, or videos.
These are great options for those who want to learn in a more self-directed, less structured manner.
In Conclusion
UI design is a way to translate a companys brand, vision, research, and content into a digital interface thats visually appealing and simple to use.
UI design, on the other hand, is digitally based and always results in a visual interface. UI and UX practices are complementary but different.
After seeing examples of UX and UI, you can better understand the importance of both web developers and product design.
Combining great UX with UI is the best solution, but it is an ongoing process that requires constant user research and analysis.
