In the design world, there are few very well-known concepts and differences that confuse most newcomers. One of the most significant aspects that people still stumble upon is the difference between UI and UX design.
If you’re interviewing for design positions or are considering a career in design, having a general idea about the two concepts, how they differ from each other and how they relate to each other is integral.
The two terms are interchangeably used; however, they mean very different things. If you want to learn the difference between UI and UX design, this article might have the answers you’re looking for.
UI or User Interface is the location where numerous interactions occur between humans and machines. UI enables users to quickly and efficiently operate machines to complete any task or achieve particular goals. As you go through this article, you’re engaging with the MIT School of Design’s UI right now!
UI comprises hardware for input and output, which work together, giving users complete control over a machine. There are numerous types of UI, including command-line interface, graphic user interface, and even voice-enabled UI.
Now that we understand what UI is let's try to understand what User Experience or UX is. UX, in simple terms, is the experience a user has when they interact with any product. According to Don Norman, UX encompasses all the end-user interactions with a company and its derivatives, the person who coined the term User Experience.
UX designers focus on crafting or improving easy and convenient products to engage with and meet their goals. The concept of user-centric design is the only priority for UX designers, as the user and their experience take center stage. UX starts with in-depth research, understanding the target audience, and executing designs that match their identified needs. UX designers have to create user personas, which help them see the goals and desires of target audiences.
Even though UI and UX are terms many people use interchangeably, they are pretty different in functionality and end purpose. The difference between the concepts is that UI refers to the visual, aesthetic elements that a user can interact with. On the other hand, UX is all about the user's experience while interacting with the products.
UI mainly focuses on the visual interface, with typography, menu bars, colors, graphics, etc. On the other hand, UX focuses on the flow of components and tries to take users on a journey across the product or service.
The foundation that is set would be UX, which comes first. Designers have to establish how every element connects to others if the logic or flow makes sense, the functionality of components, and so on. Once that is set, UI designers come in and begin designing the website or product, adding attractive and appealing elements to the established flow.
UI and UX are fundamentally two different concepts, but they work in close collaboration with the other. This is why you always hear both terms in a sentence, never just one.
If you found this article helpful and are interested in pursuing design yourself, look into MIT School of Design, one of the best UI and UX Design Institutions in Pune. With years of experience, a world-class infrastructure, and experts teaching students with a unique teaching pedagogy, MIT School of Design is the perfect institution for anyone serious about a career in design!