UI and UX Design

Heard these terms but wondering what they are? Learn all about the UI and UX design from scratch. And with easy to understand examples!

This article may not be suitable for all those who think that they know everything about UX and UI design. You may not find it challenging. But if you believe that you are on an intermediary level, then hold no worries! You are well covered. Since we have friends who would need help in understanding what these concepts mean, we will be explaining the basics of UI and UX design in a layman’s language.

Introduction

UI is an acronym for User Interface while UX is the acronym for User Experience. That is a fact.

By looking at their expanded forms, you can tell that these terms are not a part of the common man’s vocabulary. Well, yes. These terms UI and UX design are not used in any random occasions. They are part of the computer lingo.

When you take a computer, you have a human user and as well as the machine/computer. Both UI and UX design are technical concepts that deal with the user’s response to the digital products. Basically, the UI and UX design deal with the relationship between a machine and a human user. The professionals belonging to both these fields will approach the product from the user’s end. Their primary concern is to see that the users are attracted to and are satisfied with the product. Like, for instance, whether the product is pleasing to the user’s eyes. Or whether it is comfortable to handle. Getting a bit confused with the jargon here? Don’t panic. Keep reading for better clarity. You have examples coming up in the following paragraphs.

User Interface Design

User Interface (UI) Design’s interest lies in the look, display, and the relation of a product to the user. So, designers primarily focus on the pleasing or attractive element of the product.

Okay, let me simplify it.

Can you think of any of your shopping experiences? It could be anything. Clothes, electronics, or any other everyday items you can remember.

So how did you end up picking up that dress out of so many? Was it the color? Or the texture? Was it attractive? Oh yes! It was, wasn’t? That is basically what UI design is about. User Interface designer will see to it that the machine is picked up by the customer.

The Role of a UI Designer

We are now aware of what UI Designer basically does. So, is he involved in making dresses? Certainly not. So what is that he or she does? A UI Designer designs various computer/gadget/phone screens and pages with which a user interacts.

For instance, let us look at your phone. You unlock your smartphone (or even a feature phone) and land on your homepage. Then, you click on this alarm icon, and you enter a page different from your homepage. And then, you select another application, like music, for instance, and you go into a page distinct from the two pages that you had visited before. So, you see, the appearance of these different pages are not the same. Who designs them? The UI Designers.

Can you see all those applications neatly and comfortably arranged? The colors that are not too strong for your eyes. Felt that your mobile phone was quite user-friendly because you can find the in-built programs very easily? If you are happy with these aspects of your mobile phone, then you should also know that these are the work of a UI designer.

But mind you! The UI designers are not responsible for the physical appearance of the mobile phone. They are not electronic engineers. UI and UX design is purely software in nature. They work on the Operating Systems of a gadget, like graphic designers, web designers, and interaction designer.

UI Designers and their Responsibilities

The UI designers are responsible for turning a functional product into an attractive, regulating, and an engaging device for the users. They are responsible for the look, sense, responsiveness, and interactivity of the machine’s software. The UI design is responsible for the machine’s visual and graphic presentation, reactivity and interactivity of the device (when its user feeds an input), and the machine’s patterns, suggestions, and instructions that visually leads its users through their experience. The UI designers are interactive and visual designers. Their position is crucial to any digital interface, and they play a crucial role in the trust placed by the customer in a brand.

User Experience Design

User Experience (UX) Design, on the other hand, looks for the overall experience and usability of the product. The designers’ principal goal is to make the consumers “feel” good about the products.

Let me give you an example. Let us think about that dress that you had ended up picking. You bought it and took it home. It is a fabulous dress, of course. And not that cheap either. And you look fabulous in it. Feeling happy? Good. But then, you are giving it a wash, and there goes the color! Whoa! Feeling pissed off? What is going to be your feedback? Obviously, you are not happy.

Hence, the feedback, the experience, and the feeling you get out of a product is the User Experience (UX). UX designer will make sure that the consumers are happy about the purchase. Unlike the UI designers who are concerned about the “look” of the product, the UX designers are worried about the “feel and the feasibility” of the product. Sounds like a great task? Well, with effort and the right guidance, one can clearly become a UX designer. 

Role of a UX Designer

Getting confused between the UI and UX designers?

You are not alone. Just remember this. While the UI designer is concerned about the physical aspect of the software, UX designer is all about the experience. Now, how to translate these into a computer lingo? Well, let us dig into our memories.

Can you remember a time when your mobile phone got hanged? I am sure you can think of many. And also when you found it was working very smoothly (and this is something you don’t notice that easily). Most of the time, your gadget works so smoothly that you take it for granted. Well, that experience is what we are talking about here.

UX Designers and their Responsibilities

The efficiency and the effortless workings of the pages are the responsibility of the great UX designers. The UX designers are concerned with the feeling that the product provides to the consumer and the feedback that the consumer gives about the product.

Can you think of a phone that requires an internet connection to work even the most basic application? Will you be happy owning it? Definitely not! So again, the UX Designer will see to it that such glitches are avoided for better usability. They strive to enhance the consumer satisfaction and reliability by improving the usability and the pleasure provided by product to the customer by ensuring that the product flows from one step to the next without making any fuss. Unfortunately, it is not an easy task. The design problems that the UX professionals face have no particular answer. UX designers examine several strategies and user researches to solve a specific user problem.

Also Read: 7 Steps to Become a UX Designer– The Essential Guide

Conclusion

So, got a clarity where these concepts are concerned? Want to become a part of these terrific professionals? Do a UX and UI design course from an accredited institution and move your career forward. Now, when you think about it, who is more important than the other? An idiotic question, isn’t it? It is like asking a child which of his parents does he like.

Unfortunately, such idiotic questions never die. You will hear it everywhere. And you will get different responses as well. However, both the UI and UX design are crucial in completing a product design. These lesser-known but highly valued information architectures make terrific things for the others. Both the UI and UX designers do their research and have their design process to deliver that wonderful product that you love so much. Ultimately, when you look at it from a business point of view, both the visual element and the user experience are essential to selling the product. Don’t you agree? Why don’t you leave your comments in the comment section below? Would love to hear your thoughts.