Concepts such as User Experience and User Interface have gained popularity in recent years. More and more people are starting to pay attention to the role of the user in a digital product. The modern user is like a sports referee on whom the outcome of the game depends. That is why both UX and UI are taken into account in order to achieve the desired results. What are these two concepts, and what are the differences between them? All this you will learn from the following article.
Table of Contents:
3. Similarities and compatibility of UX vs. UI.
4. What is the difference between UX and UI?
What is UX?
User Experience (UX) is a way of designing, which is focused on the feelings of recipients. UX is usually associated with websites and applications. But it also applies to many areas where the user's presence connects to the product. A good example would be the sentiments expressed about the functionality of smartphones.
The main task set for UX is to develop the easiest and satisfying way to achieve the goal set by the creators. The mentioned way has to be followed by the users, and their behaviors, feelings, as well as the way they achieve their goals are analyzed. Based on the data collected, scenarios and schemes are created to meet their needs. What's more, it should even lead users through each stage so that they feel properly taken care of.
Once the right strategy is chosen, it is time for verification. To test its usability, A/B testing is used. They are used to checking how users react to different variants of solutions. The result of these activities is to create a product that is as easy to use as possible. After completing these steps, the project is given over to a UI designer.
What is UI?
User Interface (UI) is responsible for everything that a user can interact with in order to use a product or service. This includes any screens, keyboards, graphics, and even colors. Visual aspects determine how the final product should look to effectively guide the user through its various elements. The role of the UI is to provide intuitiveness, which translates into simplicity in using the product. Users should have no doubts about which path to follow in order to achieve the desired effect.
The interface that UI designers create should complement the UX efforts. It should reinforce the product goals while ensuring that the user experience is simple at every stage. With attention to details such as buttons, colors, and placement of individual elements, users are provided with an intuitive product that encourages use.
Similarities and compatibility of UX vs. UI
Before we get into the differences in the UX vs. UI statement, it's worth discussing their similarities. The development of both these areas is done with users in mind. The interface created by the UI environment is part of the user experience. This allows designers to observe the behavior of the audience and use it for later improvements. In the case of user experience, there is a broader view of the experience of the product or the whole system.
To illustrate the compatibility of these two concepts, imagine an e-commerce platform. Paying attention to UX makes the brand more popular and strengthens it against the competition. The clarity of the offer, the projected delivery date, and the ease of use of the site increase the chance of not only buying the product, but also visiting the platform again in the future. When the UI aspects such as the color of the buttons as well as the page layout are added to it, the result is an advanced customer-friendly online store. As it can be seen, both the processes are complementary to each other. Above all, the aesthetic appearance of a website is not enough if it is difficult to use.
What is the difference between UX and UI?
It's time to move on to the differences that accompany User Experience and User Interface. UI refers to digital devices and how users can use them. At the other extreme is UX, which pays more attention to behaviors in relation to the brand, product, and service. User Experience does not have to be identified with digital devices, as it is in the case of User Interface. Another fundamental difference is the fact that UX focuses mainly on feelings, where UI pays attention to image aspects.
The differences in the two approaches can be seen from the very beginning of the project, where the User Experience comes to the fore. Then, user conditions and their needs are taken into account. Observing their behavior helps to understand expectations and adjust the product to them. After thorough research, the role of the User Interface emerges. Based on the collected data, changes are made to the website that are to affect the quality of service among users.
Summary
Although UX and UI are different, it is impossible to imagine the absence of either of these approaches. Both complement each other and both focus on the viewer. They are like a canvas and paint, which only together are able to create a picture that is beautiful to look at. That is why it is important not to neglect either of them if the result is to be something extraordinary.
Product design is a process that requires focus on many details. If you want to know exactly how it is done at Railwaymen, please check the link below. We have prepared a special tutorial on what we consider the most important things in our design work.
