The term UI/UX design is used quite often in the digital world and most people have undoubtedly heard it at least once. However, there are still misconceptions about its meaning.
We've already talked about the role of UI/UX designers in a digital agency . We decided to build on that topic and in this blog post, provide you with a more detailed introduction to the discipline and help you understand it better.
What does UI/UX design mean?
UI/UX is an abbreviation for user interface / user experience , and refers to the design of digital products with a user-centered approach.
In other words, UI/UX design is about creating a product that will be visually appealing to users and provide an exceptionally pleasant user experience.
There is often a (mis)perception that UI and UX design are one and the same discipline, which is not exactly true. They are two separate disciplines that focus on different aspects of the user journey on a particular website/app.
However, UI and UX complement each other in many ways and are so closely related that they have largely merged into one profession. Let's look at the main differences between interface and experience design, and then briefly discuss what the UI/UX design process looks like.
UX design and UI design – what are the differences?
UI design, or interface design, refers to the appearance of a digital product. It focuses on visual elements such as buttons, fonts, color schemes, images, interactive elements, etc.
On the other hand, UX design is about the user experience when interacting with your site/app. Its focus is on enabling users to get what they are looking for smoothly and in a pleasant way.
The difference can be seen in the example of a car. In this case, UX would refer to mechanical aspects, such as engine power, transmission type, or fuel economy. UI would refer to aesthetic aspects, such as livery, color, rims, and seats. You can also think of it as home furnishings. In this example, the UX designer would be, say, the construction manager, while the interior designer would play the role of the UI designer.
The goal of UX design
The main responsibility of a UX designer is to make the user's interaction jordan phone number data with an application or website fast, easy, and efficient. They don't bother with the appearance, but rather map out the user experience in detail and build strategies to solve the so-called "pain points" of users and fulfill their needs. The end result of all this is a wireframe , i.e. a schematic representation of the final product.
The goal of UI design
Where the UX designer's job ends, the UI designer's job begins. His task is to breathe life into the site/application based on the resulting wireframe . As in the example of home furnishings - the functional aspects have already been planned, and all that remains is the decoration, i.e. the UI.
The key task of a UI designer is to deliver an interface that looks good, but also significantly adds to the efficiency that the UX designer has planned. In addition, it is important that the interface properly reflects the vision and image of the brand. Therefore, the outcome of a UI designer's work should be an interface that will be:
trustworthy for business
created with a hierarchical and logical structure
easy to navigate
nice looking
responsive.
Ultimately, the final product needs to look good, be functional, and provide a fantastic user experience in terms of performance and navigation. You can't achieve this without high-quality UI and UX design, and it is precisely because they complement each other that we are increasingly talking about a role that encompasses the skills of both disciplines.
If you are wondering what the UI/UX design process looks like, let's briefly look at its key stages and the main focus in each of them.
What does the UI/UX design process look like?
There are several stages that are absolutely essential if you want your UI/UX design product to be of high quality, and they can be divided into three. We'll take a look at what they are and what they include.
1. Research and analysis
UI/UX designers must have an extremely good understanding of the challenges, needs, goals, and expectations of their users. They must also have an excellent understanding of the business they are designing for and be well-versed in the business sector and the current market situation.
During this phase, business requirements and documentation are collected, as well as data on the brand's target audience. All this data needs to be analyzed to create different maps, user scenarios, images of the ideal user and their story, and ultimately build a strategy that will enable product design that will fulfill the brand's vision and user preferences.