Whether you are a professional designer or a novice having a keen interest in web designing, you definitely must have heard of the terms UX and UI (viz. User Experience and User Interface). Although they have same starting initials but are very different in aspects and existence.
Both UX and UI are well-known terms in the web industry but are often mistaken for their meanings and scope. Even experienced designers and developers tend to get mistaken most of the times, which ultimately affects their designs and coding. Let us explore UX and UI more and learn about them.
UI (User Interface) refers to the seamless interaction of the user and the system with the help of some input/software devices. It includes a bunch of screens, pages, buttons, icons and some other visual elements that help in establishing an interaction of the user with the device. While UX (User Experience) refers to the extensive process of increasing customer retention and satisfaction by improving its usability. It is the first impression a user gets when s/he interacts with the product or service. Or in simple words, it is the first interaction of a user with the system.
Categorisation Of Each Discipline
UX |
UI |
| Information Hierarchy Identifying valuable content that appears on website pages including sitemap, and also remaining thoughtful with design elements, links and much more is all that UX designers generally work to render. |
Branding Of Products UI Designers meticulously look after the color patterns, logos, typography, etc. to make a website look more interesting, engaging and interactive. |
| Wireframes Wireframes are the most integral part of a design on the basis of which PSD files are built. These wireframes can be used to exhibit the functional component of a web design, despite the presence or absence of the graphics. |
Mock-ups UI designers efficiently monitor the building of mock-ups that are ready to be delivered. These mock-ups contain elements that help in understanding the functionality of the entity/product. |
Responsibilities
UX |
UI |
| UX designers are mainly concerned with the purpose of exploring and enhancing the feel of a product designed. This is done by addressing the issues of UX in multiple ways. These designers focus on design, content and orientation of the framed product. They crucially evaluate the functioning of these products/services when used by users, to see how it actually works. | While UX designers focus on enhancing the feel of the product. On the other hand, UI designers keep a tab on how these products/services are designed. They are the one who make sure that all visual and interactive design elements are efficiently placed in the product. The UI designers are mainly responsible for creating designs that uniformly serve all the users. |
How they overlap
After knowing the differences of UX and UI, let us know the general features that define the similarity between them.
Despite knowing the major differences between UX and UI, at some point of designing phase, UI overlaps UX. Let us know what are those phases:
- Both are subject to improve customer satisfaction
- Focus on leveraging the user’s interaction with service and products
- Both are essential during product/service development
Continuing the discussion, here are some proven theories commonly followed and accepted by technocrats and designers in the web industry.
- UI is mainly focused on the look and function of the product/service whereas UX is primarily associated with the process of enhancing the experience a user gets while interacting with the device or its elements. For an instance, if medicines, equipment, syringes, stretchers and bed are the elements (UI) of any hospital, then everything from the operation, to parking, waiting, announcements, and the food is the user experience (UX).
- UX and UI are two different designing aspects that aren’t comparable with each other at all. And asking difference in any of these is exactly like distinguishing a brick from the elements it is made of. Ultimately, the user interface is one of the parts of user experience which, on a whole, is a vast entity containing different elements (including UI too).
- UI is limited to the screens, focusing on visual styles, structures and guidelines of the icons/buttons while, on the other hand, UX refers to the journey of users with the product/service.
- UI comprises the elements and factors a user will interact with while, on the other hand, UX is the total experience that user gets with the product/service. Both UX and UI are two different things that must run together to give long-lasting digital experience to the user.
Role and Responsibilities of UX designer:
A user experience designer must know the value of creating a user experience or providing things that understand the association of a user with the product/service. Getting an idea about the factors that can readily affect the user experience should be the major concern of a UX designer. And s/he should look up for all the possibilities to enhance this experience every now and then. A company, looking to hire a UX designer, must pick the one who understands the need of proffering improved user experience with each of their services/products, thus claiming a long-lasting growth.
Role and Responsibilities of UI designer:
As known, the prime responsibility of the UI designer is mainly concerned with visual and front-end designing. Improving the visibility, alignment, and orientation of the product are the major concerns of UI designers. Complete control on designing of web pages should be meticulously done by a UI designer along with performing other activities like doing research on designs, prototyping, and documentation of UI, etc. From regulating the flow of visual elements to ensuring the graphical consistency website’s user interface, a UI designer must do it all effectually.
Conclusion
Evidently, a large number of people associated with web design and development industry tend to mix both these terms, either for having the same meaning or mixing with their function & serviceability. Many of them often use these terms without having any idea about their meaning, origin, and scope of usage.
If you have some other reasons to differentiate UX and UI that can add up to this content and its credibility, then feel free to add your suggestions in the comment box below.
