Two of the most confusing terminologies that make us scratch our heads are the user interface (UI) and the user experience (UX) of a website or mobile application. There is a massive difference if you ask the right person.
We have been a part of the conversation where people try to understand the differences between UI and UX. These conversations usually end up creating a fine line between these two entities of website and application development. Let us split this discussion into more straightforward sections first and then proceed to understand their distinguishable differences.
What is User Interface (UI)?
The User Interface is the complete design of a website or mobile application that displays the entire content. Everything comes under UI design, from the color palette to unique themes, navigation features, to template design.
The question ‘What is UI Design’ has several answers closely linked to the user experience. If we describe it with simpler words, then a UI design is the outcome of the designing process of the visual elements of a website or application. It entirely focuses on the presentation of an online domain that users will see.
What is User Experience design (UX)?
On the other hand, it is the process of designing an online portal considering a particular set of experiences users will discover while using it. Designing a UI can be viewed as a part of UX design. It can also be considered as the outcome of a UI design.
This process comprises website design elements, the various aspects of branding, creating a UI design, choosing the usability of website architecture, and its functionality. In other words, a UI UX developer will go beyond the UI design to understand what and how a user will experience the audiovisual elements of a website. The developer will analyze what a user will feel while scouting a website design.
The prime difference between UI and UX design
Let us try more straightforward examples and references to understand what UI and UX design mean for a website or mobile application.
Consider a painting. If the painter uses colors without maintaining any relevance or aesthetics, the image will become an absurd outcome of his talent. It perfectly represents the websites where UI designs are developed without considering the UX attributes.
Similarly, suppose a painter puts his thoughts with colors perfectly but not on a compatible painting surface. In that case, it represents a UX presentation without considering the UI elements of a website design. Only a UI UX developer can join the dots and utilize all the aspects of UI and UX design at the same time to construct a brilliant online presence for a business.
From the above discussion, we can conclude that the prime difference between UI and UX design is the feel of a visitor. This is the factor that differentiates between these two inseparable entities of a website design. The UX design of a website will deliver the feel or experience a visitor will perceive with his senses. On the contrary, the UI design will comprise all the elements that decide the look and functioning of the website.
In terms of roles, a UI designer will create an aesthetic online presence of a business using his exceptional skills of choosing color palettes and unique template creations. All the other elements that decide the functionality of a website will also come under his domain.
In the same context, a UX designer will decide the path or a journey of a user/visitor on the website. He will decide how a visitor lands and explore a website for his need. A user is there to resolve his queries or find an answer to his pain points. The UX designer will decide how he sees it quickly without feeling lost and imbibing the aesthetic value of the online domain.
Why a UI UX developer is important?
Now that we are clear of the difference between a UI and UX design of a website, we can perfectly understand that a website development venture needs a UI UX developer in this modern era.
A developer with both the skills of understanding and including UI and UX elements into a website will be ideal for creating a brilliant online presence. He will customize a unique website template, colour themes, and other graphical elements and personalize the journey of a visitor. In a nutshell, he will write a story that a user will read right from the first step on the website.
Let us check out the benefits of hiring a UX UI developer for your website development.
- Research on the propositions
A UI UX developer will not jump into developing a website without researching the business’s products/services/ideas. It will understand what the company wants to sell, look at the competition, and then develop a vision of creating a UI UX website design.
- Content management
The content of a website needs to be accessible and readable to the users. The developer will create an elegant yet straightforward framework that enables a user to find what he is looking for. The content on a website will have to be visible, consistent, engaging, and user-friendly. He will think of the audience and then proceed to build an interface accordingly.
- Organized presentation
A website of a business needs to be perfectly organized in order to deliver information to visitors conveniently. The functionality of the website will be the backbone of the business. Hence, the UI/UX design should be well-mapped.
Wrapping up
Hiring an experienced UI/UX developer will deliver the following benefits to your business website. Now that you are clear of UI and UX design definitions, your prime aim should be choosing the right developer for the purpose.
Scout for the best UI/UX developer with experience in your business domain. Discover the latest website development trends and make informed decisions under his guidance regarding website development.
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