If you spend much time on social media these days, you've probably seen the "red flag" posts going around.
Social media users and businesses are jumping on this trend by following red flag emojis with something that is a ‘red flag’ in their lives or businesses. For us, and many in the design community, a big red flag is when the terms “UX” and “UI” are used interchangeably. So what’s the deal with UX vs UI?
When working with design, marketing, or a similar field, it’s essential to understand the differences between UX and UI. Harnessing the strengths of both and using them to your advantage is a crucial tool when it comes to giving your users the best experience possible. Don’t worry- if you know you use these terms interchangeably or feel you don’t understand the difference between the two, you’ve come to the right place!
In this blog, we will break down the differences between UX and UI. We will also discuss how they work together to create an efficient experience for users. Read on to understand UX vs. UI better and learn how they can benefit your business!
UX vs UI Design
What is UX Design?
Simply put, UX, or User Experience, is the experience when a user interacts with a product. This term was coined in the 1990s by Don Norman, who worked at Apple at the time. In the current design, the focus is centered around how the user will interact and experience it.
A lot of UX design depends on how the design will make the user feel. Research is an essential first step to any UX design process. It allows the designer to understand the target audience. What do they need out of the design? What goals are they trying to achieve? How can the design help them get there? All of this will impact the decision-making process.
An excellent example of effective UX design is Instagram; when users scroll through the app, the user is shown one picture. The pictures take up the majority of the screen and are shown one at a time. It is also an intuitive app and offers helpful prompts when you first create an account. Uploading pictures, finding friends, or sharing something to your story is easy to figure out.
What is UI Design?
UI, or User Interface, is how a user interacts with a product or system. Well-designed UI should create an enjoyable experience for the user. Impactful UI includes the fit of the content on the screen, the size of buttons, text size, organization, and more. A designer needs to think about what a user may do. For example, anticipating that a user may make a mistake allows the designer to provide a “back” or “undo” button. This leads to a simple, enjoyable interaction for the user.
According to Adobe, giving users the ability to reverse mistakes, make navigation clear, and provide feedback is considered when designing. These things ultimately make up the interface and impact the overall experience.
For UI to be truly impactful and memorable, it should provide straightforward usability while considering general aesthetics. As Career Foundry points out in their article from July, Mailchimp is an excellent example of effective UI. If you don’t already know, Mailchimp’s goal is to help users make and manage newsletters of all shapes and sizes. The Mailchimp site is easily accessible and navigable, even for users who have never created a newsletter before.
The text provides information on the purpose behind their business and how to get started on the homepage. When your pointer hovers over something clickable, it turns into an animated hand, clearly showing the user that the element can be clicked.
How do UX and UI work Together?
Though understanding the differences between UX vs UI is important, it’s also vital to know how UX and UI work together. It takes both of these elements to create and maintain an efficient, functional website. When working with either UX or UI, you want to think about how every element will work together to contribute to the site’s overall look, feel, and flow. When planning for this, you have a few options.
Every decision you make when designing the UI is ultimately going to impact the UX. After deciding who your target audience is and conducting research to understand their goals and needs, this information should inform your choices for UX and UI. Though both play specific roles in the design of your site, it’s crucial to think about how they will ultimately work together as a whole.
UX VS UI: Is it Important for my Business?
At The Molo Group, we are passionate about helping clients showcase their brand to their target audience. The design of a business website impacts everything from lead generation to the happiness of the user. In a world that relies on the digital community more than ever, a business website’s look and feel are even more valuable. As a result of the pandemic, many businesses no longer get the chance to make an in-person impression. This emphasizes why your website’s look, feel, and overall experience may be the most crucial part of your client interaction.
When users find the answers or solutions they are looking for through an enjoyable experience of your site, their chances of revisiting your site and becoming loyal customers are much higher. UX and UI determine everything from how pleasant your website is to navigate to their process of finding their answers to placing an order. The buttons, fonts, colors, and layout all work together to give your customer the best experience possible.
User Experience and User Interface in Harmony
UX and UI have certainly grown and developed throughout the years. We understand how easy it is to get UX vs UI confused or intermixed. There should be overlap when discussing UX and UI. When these two are working together, they complement each other and create a complete product. If you want your website to attract, engage, and maintain customers or users, it’s essential to research and strategize how best to implement both UX and UI when designing your website.
In conclusion, as a design team, our goal is to ensure our clients give their users the best experience possible. UX and UI play a significant role in this. From the look and feel of the homepage to the navigation bar and typography, there are many decisions to make it all come together. If you feel your website needs a refresh, reach out today! From no website to an old website, there’s no problem too big or messy for our team to handle.
