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UI vs UX are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing. Although the development of the first graphical interface might have given a start to both, they are different. There is also a myth that one and the same person can do both – user interface and user experience which further elaborates on no difference between UI and UX. But UI and UX are two different concepts and both need an expert.
UI is Aesthetical whereas UX is cognitive. UI is simple about WHAT users interact with and UX is about HOW users interact. There is a PRODUCT factor in UI and a HUMAN factor in UX. UI depends and evolves on CREATIVITY whereas UX depends on ANALYTICS.
This entire blog is dedicated to how the user interface and user experience are different from each other and how both are equally important for a great website.
UI and Modern Day UI
In simple terms, User Interface is the visual interaction between humans and machines. It is all about the look and feel, presentation, as well as, interactivity of a website. It comprises a lot of visible active and static elements such as the placement of buttons, typography icons, themes, layouts, navigation bars, text sections, menu layouts, design responsiveness, and much more. But this is a traditional idea about UI.
As per Gartner, along with creativity, it is also about the psychology of research, choices, using the latest technology to build customized results, and informative decisions while working on the new designs. Hence, UI lays more importance on simple day-to-day tasks, personalized emotional designs, next-gen interactions, digitalization, and much more.
Responsibilities of A UI Designer
Be it following and implementing the latest design trends, creating a responsive design, or implementing consistent visual guidelines, the UI Designers are responsible for handling everything that has graphical constraints and creating extensive opportunities for products. It is the responsibility of the UI designer to do it in a way that blends creativity, awareness, and user-centric and result-driven design insights into the website/app. Below mentioned is everything that a UI designer does:
Research
UI is the most creative part of handling any website or digital product, but it needs thorough design research before any implementation. Research helps UI designers to add more context and insights into the user requirements, design trends, competitors, and user behaviors. They can also make informed decisions on the design systems that can further facilitate project workflows.
- To understand the information architecture
- Conduct design research
- Understand the needs of stakeholders and customers
- Conduct analysis of the latest digital and design trends
Look and Feel
It may seem like only a UX designer is responsible for this. But the intuitiveness and user-friendliness of a website or digital product show how end-users will like and use it. Thus, UI designers take care of:
- Interface Layout
- Design and position of UI elements
- Developing brand and graphics
- Building visual guidelines
Interactivity & Responsiveness
UI designers also handle responsive design and screen optimization, animation, interaction design, and various things like:
- Usability & Prototype Testing
- Design-development
- User Guidelines
The role of UI designers has evolved drastically as systems, expectations, processes, work environments, accessibility, etc have all shifted to be more digital-oriented. Today, UI designers must be more flexible and extremist visioners for delivering outstanding solutions.
UX and Modern Day UX
User experience is the way in which a user interacts with the website, digital products, or apps. But as per Gartner’s report, UX is all about customer experience, user experience design, and the business analyst.
It is the experience quality of an interactive system from the perspective of users. UX is the personal experience of users using the system. When compared to User Interface, UX is more explorative and analytical as it considers the user i.e. human.
Responsibilities of a UX Designer
The responsibility of a typical UX designer is to research and implement everything that helps reflect the website or product in a way so it can deliver consistent and optimal user experiences. UX designers can do all these things by using automation tools, user testing, strategy implementation, analytics, etc. Below mentioned is everything a UX designer does:
Sound Strategies & Content Planning
If users aren’t able to use a website or a product, they won’t use them. Hence, UX designers research each and everything about the users, and their behaviors, and plan to deliver the best user journey.
- Conduct field and user research
- Perform competitive analysis
- Gather information from research to validate assumptions and ideas
- Strategic plans for stakeholders
- Craft user personas
- Build user flows
- User test or Face to face interviews
Iterative Process
UX designers modify everything from end-users and customer’s perspectives using the following techniques:
- Prototype, test, and refinement
- Information architecture: Organize and label digital content
- Wireframes
- User testing and site/product validation
Handling the Final Phase – Analytics and Implementation
UX designers also test how people use the website, how they like/dislike it, and draw informative conclusions based on it. It can be used for enhancing the designs.
- Analyze study analytics, and test results, and take the next steps
- Coordinate results with UI designers and developers
- Track goals and do necessary modifications
UI vs UX To UI and UX
Creating an outstanding design is important for the success of any website, digital product, or app. It is also vital for the success of any business. Both UI and UX designers must stay close to the end-users, understand their requirements, serve their needs, and meet their expectations. Along with this, the designers must also collaborate with each other on their tasks and goals. This is because UI and UX go hand in hand. Good UX cannot cover bad UI and vice versa.
It might be difficult to find the right methods or techniques that work the best. But right UI/UX designers can help you build an astounding website without any glitches. Webential has great UI/UX designers who have the right knowledge and years of expertise to build a beautiful yet user-friendly website for you.
