Two terms that are often heard while designing a digital product are User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). Both these terms are different yet sometimes used interchangeably. The reason being both are inseparable elements of a product design.
However, if you read about them and see their functions, you will see many differences between UX & UI. This article will explain what these terms mean and how they are different from each other.
What is UI?
UI stands for User Interface. It comprises the elements that are used to interact with an application or digital product. These elements are buttons, text, pages, screen layout, and transitions, animations, drop-down lists, check box and navigation tools, and more. It includes everything you see on a website or app.
So, if a website or application has a good interface, it means that you can easily understand and connect with it. UI is the way a digital product looks or makes you feel. Hence, a UI design is not merely about aesthetics but how engaging and quick its response is.
What is UX?
UX means User Experience. It is about how you have interacted and felt about the overall product. User experience will tell if your interaction was confusing or smooth. Will you revisit the site or avoid it? How was your experience navigating through it? Did you accomplish what you wanted to achieve from the interaction?
So, the primary aim of having a user experience design is to create a product that is useful for the user and provides them a pleasing experience. An effective user experience comprises an excellent visual design, smooth interface, enhanced usability, and more. In a way, you can say that UI is a subset of UX. An intuitive interface helps in giving an excellent experience to the user.
By understanding the definition, you must have got an idea about the difference between UX & UI. Here is a list of some fundamental differences between them.
Key Differences Between UX and UI
- UI focuses on the artistic component, while UX’s is on functionality.
The user interface focuses on the visual aspect of a site. It relates to the design, layout of the site, navigation tools, etc. So, it’s basically everything that you see on a site. It affects how you are going to feel about it. On the other hand, UX involves analytics and research to understand what the user wants and develop a product that is valuable for them. UX helps them provide what they want, creating a visual hierarchy.
- UI creates an emotional response while UX helps in accomplishing goals.
There is a reason why you visit a site or application. You can go there for information, shopping, payments or anything. So, there is a goal in your mind whenever you visit it. A UX design takes care of this aspect by giving you guidelines. It offers suggestions on what you want to do and when to do it, helping you meet your goals. It should look logical and should work on the accepted notions.
On the other hand, a UI draws you to the site and creates an impact so that you stick around it for a while. For example, if you visit a food website, it should have a design that matches the precedents so that you don’t feel disconnected.
So, even though both UI and UX have different focuses, they serve the same business goals. Both work differently and have their unique strengths.
UX design is based on the user’s needs, while the UI design is based on the research, suggestions, and requirements of the UX designer. So, it’s essential to understand the subtle difference between UX & UI to utilize them in a better way.