Introduction to UI/UX: Meaning, Principles, Similarities and Differences
If you are reading this article there is a high chance you are considering venturing into the tech world (if you are not already in it) or just want a better understanding of a term you came across; UI/UX design (also known as product design). In this article I’ll be telling you more about UI/UX.
What is UI and UX? UI and UX are often seen together but are independent terms that mean different things and are concerned with different areas of design. UI is an acronym for User Interface, it refers to the visual experience of end users while interacting with a product, from how the pages in a website or the screens in a mobile application looks like, the transitions between screens, to what happens when a button is tapped. It is concerned with the presentation, feel and look of a product. UI involves the uses of elements such as: icons & buttons, typography, color schemes, spacing, imagery and responsive design to make a product look aesthetically pleasing and improve user experience digitally. UI design deals with just the digital aspect of a product. A good UI design ensures that the transition between screens is seamless and straight forward, it should also look appealing.
UX stands for User Experience, it is the over all experience of end users with a Company, it’s brand, products and services. UX entails both physical products and digital products/experiences. The process of UX design entails the following stages: market research, product development, strategy and design.
A Good UX design ensures optimal functionality of the product, easy usability and usefulness of product by creating a solution or an improved solution to an existing problem. Unlike UI design, UX is not only concerned with the digital product and experience of the consumer but also the physical and every other way the end user might interact with the brand it’s products. The needs of the company/brand is also considered not just that of the end user, unlike in UI where only the end user’s needs are relevant.
Irrespective of the differences between UI and UX design, they are closely related as UI design is developed using blueprint from the UX design and they both have the same end goal, which is creating a product that that functions properly and is useful.