3 Critical Differences Between UX vs. UI Design

Knowing the differences between UX vs. UI design is critical. Given that 80% of consumers are acquiescent to paying extra for a better user experience and 73% say that brands don’t present an excellent experience across multiple forms of devices, including their websites, UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are both critical for consumer happiness and use of products, tools, services, websites, and apps.

The main differences in the two designs are:

• Focus
• Skill Set
• Function

UX Design

UX design is the methodology of creating and adapting products, services, etc. focused on making the user’s trek when using the easiest and most enjoyable it can be. This is mainly done through user research, trial and error, and comments from consumers. A UX designer thinks highly about what a user feels and how they interact with an object or tool.

UX Elements

UX design elements includes:

• Anticipated user behavior
• Order and flow of elements and events
• Functional design
• User research

UI design

UI design is the methodology of creating and adapting products, services, etc. focused on making the products intuitive and simple as possible to use. A UI designer focuses on a user’s requirements and needs and how they fulfill them.

UI Elements

UI design elements includes:

• Element location
• Website layout
• Visual Design
• Typography
• Colors
• Branding

Differences Between UX vs. UI Design

There are 3 main differences between UX vs. UI design. UX design and research usually leads to UI design. UX finds a problem or pain point and UI is often used to solve or make it better.

1. Focus

The focus of UX is to make the consumer’s use of something as enjoyable as possible while the focus of UI is to make the user’s progress as dependable and simple as possible. 

2. Skill set

Both UX and UI skills include critical thinking, interaction design, collaboration/communication, and information architecture, but there are some differences in the fields.

UX skills include: 

• User Research
• Wireframing
• Usability
• User Empathy

UI skills include: 

• Information Design
• Prototyping
• Coding
• Visual/Graphic Design
• Architecture Layout

3. Function

UX’s purpose is to learn information about users’ demographics, needs/requirements, desires, habits, expectations, inclinations, pain points, etc. UI’s purpose is to make websites, apps, and other electronic items or devices as easy to use, enjoyable, and functional based on information about users.

Summary

UX design is the methodology of creating and adapting products, services, etc. focused on making the user’s trek when using the easiest and most enjoyable it can be. UI design is the methodology of creating and adapting products, services, etc. focused on making the products intuitive and simple as possible to use. The main differences in the two designs are:

• Focus
• Skill Set
• Function