UX is not UI
UI is an integral piece of UX. No doubt they both have the same ultimate aim, which is to create a great user experience, but UI Design is a completely unique part of the process.
So what is the difference between UX and UI?
Simply put User experience (UX) design is less concerned with the look and feel of a site or product, and more concerned with how it functions and how users interact with it.
UX design is focused on the user rather than the aesthetics of the design or service. while UI is concerned with the visuals, aesthetics, and how the look and feel delight users.
Okay, nice. So as a UX Designer, what is my function?
Know that UX designers are concerned with user satisfaction, ensuring that the product meets the user’s needs. They design with human interaction in mind, guaranteeing that the product’s usability and accessibility are constantly improved.
A UX designer will take control of the complete scope of the design process, from the research to the ideation, and prototyping down to user testing. It’s an end to end deal and remains user-driven at all times.
What about UI Designers, what do they do?
A UI designer focuses on the user’s visual experience. determining how a user interacts with an interface, whether that interface is an app, a video game, or a website. It’s all about how the user gets from point A to point B via various visual touchpoints. Consider pressing a button or swiping through images. A UI designer’s duty is to design all of the screens that a user will navigate across, as well as the visual elements and their interaction properties that make that movement possible.
Key Takeaway: To build a finished product that delights users both visually and functionally, UI and UX designers must effectively collaborate.
I hope I’m able to help you understand the difference between these two roles.
If you wish to further learn the difference, Daren Hood provided a good explanation of what UX is not in Overcoming UX Misdirection
You can as well read more on the core differences between UX and UI from Toptal Design Blog
Thanks for reading.
I occasionally publish posts like this one, follow me for more if you like it, you can also follow me on LinkedIn