Difference between UI Design and UX Design!

When you are building a website, there are two important components that you must pay attention to maximize the usability of your website, namely UI (User Interface) and also UX (User Experience). Maybe many think that the two are not much different and almost similar. But actually, UI and UX are very different, whether it’s in terms of design, purpose, implementation, or others.

Want to know the difference? Let’s take a peek at the differences between UI Design and UX Design through this article! In addition, you can also find out the interests and roles of designers in these two fields, you know.

UI Definition

UI is an abbreviation of the word User Interface, which is the main design display on your website where interactions between customers and your products can occur. Then, the user interface allows the user to operate a website to complete a task, such as; making a purchase or downloading an application.

This user interface consists of input hardware (a device that can control the machine from the user’s side such as a keyboard, mouse, or joystick) and output hardware (a device that can provide information to the user such as a monitor, and audio speaker, or printer). So, in the user interface, this hardware input will work in tandem with the output hardware so that users can control a device perfectly.

With user interfaces, there are many different types of user interfaces (eg voice-based interfaces, graphical user interfaces, as well as command-line interfaces), but these are the most commonly used;

Graphical User Interface

Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a form of user interface that connects user interaction with digital products through visual elements. So, while the user can interact with the GUI, they can skip several pages or screens. Well, screens are made up of static elements (like text sections) and active elements (like buttons and other interactive controls).

Today, GUI is one of the most popular UI types for digital products and the type of UI that will be discussed in this article. From the mobile devices that you are holding now, VR headsets, laptops to your TV, all use a GUI interface. Therefore, with the increasing use of GUIs, the demand for UI designers is increasing.

Aspects that affect UI design

Of course, if you want to design your user interface, there are many aspects that you must pay attention to. However, whatever design you will apply to your user interface, you must make sure that your user interface design has these characteristics from certain aspects, namely;

Clarity: All elements of your user interface should be displayed as clearly as possible, especially if you use a lot of visual metaphors. You have to make sure that your users don’t get confused and don’t have to decode the meaning behind an element.
Familiarity: Make sure that you use elements that are familiar and not new. This is because familiar elements can launch user interaction in your UI. After all, they can have previous experience interacting with your product.
Consistency: Having a consistent interface across all your products will make it easier for users to recognize your interface pattern. So it can make it easier for them to control the user interface that you provide.
Efficiency: An efficient UI allows users to get the output they want without having to do a lot. Then, an efficient UI can provide users with shortcuts to make their interactions more productive.

Definition of UX

Often equated with UI, UX is very different, you know, although somewhat similar. UX stands for User Experience where user experience is the experience that a person gets when interacting with a product. Equally related to the user and product interactions, UX is more concerned with the experience the user will get while UI is more concerned with design. Therefore, it is often said that UI and UX go hand in hand with each other.

Therefore, UX designers have a role to make products that can be easily used and interpreted by users. So, one of the important concepts when designing User Experience is; user-centered design. As much as possible, a UX designer and the UX that you produce must meet the expectations of a user.

A user journey

The concept of “user journey” has become one of the benchmarks when designing user experiences. This is because the emotions that users develop when interacting with a product, be it negative, positive or ordinary, have a very significant impact on their feelings towards a product. So, the user journey, or can be interpreted as the entire experience that a person feels when interacting with your product, has a direct impact on the user experience. Thus, UX is more focused on the user experience to solve a problem and that experience can be improved through a component, namely; design.

Aspects that affect UX design

There are several aspects, which if fulfilled, can improve the user experience design of your product and provide the best experience for your users. These aspects include;

Accessibility: It must be remembered that not all users have the same technical skills, so it is very important to build a user experience that can be easily accessed by many people. For example, you have to make sure that you don’t use certain jargons that are easier to understand. Because if it is difficult to access, it will limit someone’s satisfaction with a product and will not be interested in exploring more.
Visibility: The important thing is, that your users must always be informed about the system, as well as the product you are working on. Then, of course, you also have to provide an appropriate timeline.
Freedom: Freedom is very important because your users will make mistakes when interacting. So, give them a chance to be able to undo and redo or maybe cancel. Thus, users will be more active in interacting with your product.
Flexibility: Ensure that your user experience can accommodate various types of users. For example, make sure that your product can be used for advanced users as well as users who are just starting. Then, maybe provide a guide for those who are just starting to understand or provide a way to speed up for users who are already familiar.
Minimalist design: Make sure your user experience design can look aesthetic but still minimalist. Don’t let your design confuse users and use unnecessary buttons. So, just use more focused screens and dialogues to make them stand out and be clear.

The importance of UI UX

If you now understand the meaning behind user interface and User Experience, you must be confused why is UI design and UX design so important for our products? Well, before recognizing the difference between UI design and UX design, here are some UI and UX interests that you need to know!

Increase Interaction

Just creating content is not enough to have loyal customers, you have to create content that people want to interact with. This includes written content, images, advertisements, or other actions. To achieve this, of course, you must have techniques in your product that can cause interaction.

Therefore, if you have the right UI and UX design, you can produce more interactive content. So, it will make your users/customers more interested in the products you provide.

Increase customer satisfaction

Having a good UI and UX design can give your users satisfaction because the content is very engaging and the navigation can be adjusted easily. So, this will make your users satisfied with the services provided by your application. Satisfied users will recommend your application to others, thereby increasing visitors in the end. In addition, the reputation of your application will increase and will increase the return on investment of your business.

Paying attention to the User

Because you must have done research on your user needs before designing a UI or UX design in your application, the results of your design can certainly meet the needs of your users. Therefore, your application is made with your target audience as the focus, so that your application can attract the attention of users that you have focused on before.

Then, building a UI and UX design can help you divide your target audience, which is very important so that you can understand what they need. Furthermore, understanding their willingness will make it easier for you to attract users and make them loyal customers, thereby increasing your sales.

Difference between UI and UX design

After interpreting the meaning behind the user interface and user experience and knowing their importance, surely the difference between the two is still not visible. Therefore, this is the difference between UI design and UX design.

Design Goal

Even though they look the same, the goals of the two are very different. From the start, UI has a goal to improve the appearance of your product. So, the UI is more focused on displaying an appropriate and consistent interface design so that it can attract many users. In essence, UI takes care of all things related to design, in terms of fonts that must be displayed, colors, images, and others.

Meanwhile, unlike UI, UX aims to provide a user experience. So, UX design is more focused on how the elements used can make users comfortable and make it easier for them when they are using your product. Therefore, UX design can be considered as an intermediary between the user and the UI design, so that the UI can be displayed to the user well.

Component

Because UI design is more focused on producing visuals, UI design has more artistic components. Ultimately, UI design is made up of components that can influence what your users see, hear, and feel.

However, because UX design is more focused on the functionality of your product, UX design has a more technical component as well as a “social” component. Therefore, UX design will require deeper market research than UI design. This is because UX designers must ensure that they can facilitate the needs of their users.

Procedure

The way the two work is of course very different. If seen, the way UI design works are more focused on using patterns, practices, and personal preferences which will then be asked to be approved.

However, the way UX design works are more focused on using data about the needs of the target market or data about how users use the product or application.

Focus

Because they both work differently, UI and UX design also have a very different initial focus from each other. UI is more focused on making technical designs to produce good product visuals for products.

However, UX is more focused on market management and analysis from the beginning to the end to be able to produce products that match the user’s wishes.

Skills required

Because they cover two different things, the skills required will automatically be different. For UI design, skills such as being proficient in product design or having experience in the design field are highly preferred. In addition, skills such as creative thinking are also indispensable in UI design. This is because UI designers will work more to produce attractive visuals.

Meanwhile, UX design requires skills that are not too concerned with the design, but rather with analysis, such as; interpretation skills, research, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In addition, UX design also requires someone who can be creative, so creative thinking is needed. This is because UX design is a part of your application that emphasizes user comfort.

Tools needed

Because both require different skills, of course, the tools needed are also very different. As is well known, UI requires tools that are more inclined towards graphic design such as; Adobe Illustrator, Frames X, or Flinto.

However, UX requires tools that can generate elements in the interface such as; sketch or Adobe X.

Uniting UI Design with UX Design

Although the differences between UI design and UX design are quite listed, the need for both is very important when you are currently developing a website or product or to optimize the performance of your current website. Although the two have different roles, they complement each other. This is because, if you don’t combine the two, your website or product will experience this scenario;

You have a website with a very nice and aesthetic interface, but it is very difficult to navigate, difficult to track content, and your users are confused.
You have a website that is very easy and traceable but not attractive so your users are not satisfied with your website services.

Therefore, UI and UX are always combined to produce a perfect website. For your users to be satisfied and interested in your website, you will need an appropriate UX design to make it easier for users and a good UI design to attract users’ attention. So, both designs are of interest to all website developers.

Role of UI and UX Designer

Because internet usage is increasingly mushrooming in Indonesia, let alone creating websites for your own business, having an effective and efficient UI and UX design is in great demand by many entrepreneurs. Therefore, the role of UI and UX designers is increasingly important in recent times. But what are the responsibilities of a UI/UX designer these days? Don’t be afraid, this is the role of the UI and UX designer that you can take a good look at:

UI Designer Role

UI designers have a more relevant role to represent information visually such as graphic design. So, usually, the basic skills that Ui designers have are graphic design, visual design, and branding design. Then, UI designers also work from user flows and wireframes that are usually generated by UX design and turn them into something more aesthetic and pleasing to the eye.

More than that, here are some of the skills needed by a UI designer:

Detail Oriented: UI design must be able to pay attention to details because even the smallest details can affect everything. Therefore, the Ui designer will continue to refine an element in the interface.
Problem-solving skills: Even though UI designers prefer to design interfaces, they should still be able to solve problems. This is because UI designers must also be able to provide solutions through their designs.
Responsive Design: UI designers must be able to ensure that the interface design can look good on any device, be it a laptop or mobile device. So, UI designers must-have skills that can produce smooth and responsive designs, not just aesthetics.

UX Designer Role

UX designers have a role to design products in the early stages, but through the research, they have done on the target audience. So the UX designer focuses on analyzing the research and ensuring that the product framework that they will provide to the UI design team can meet the user’s needs.

This is the responsibility of a UX Designer:

Understand users: UX designers must start with deep research and one of their goals is to understand user needs. Empathy is needed for UX designers because it will help them understand and find user needs.
Create a design strategy: even if they don’t work on the design, the UX designer must formulate a design strategy that will be given to the UI design team. The design strategy usually consists of the purpose of a product and how it will be displayed
Interaction analysis: UX designers must be able to analyze how people use a product (such as habits when interacting or preferences when interacting with an interface) to improve elements and adapt them to the wishes of the user.
Creating wireframes and prototypes: UX designers usually have to create wireframes and prototypes to propose their ideas to the design team.

Thus, UX designers will be more involved in product execution and they will have to interact with all teams to ensure the product is designed properly.

Conclusion

UI and UX design are two very different components for your website. While UI is focused on producing compelling visuals, UX is focused on maximizing the experience for your audience. However, the two are inseparable and both are equally important. This is because, if you don’t maximize the UX of your design, no matter how attractive your interface design is, you will still produce an unsatisfactory experience.

Then, the roles of UI and UX designers are very different because these departments have very different job desks. However, just as UI and UX design must go hand in hand, UI designers and UX designers must often work together.