UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) are two different disciplines that designers can specialize in, both of which relate to creating apps and websites. However, these terms have very different meanings, even though they're often used interchangeably. If you’re looking to hire either of these professionals, it’s important to understand the difference between UI and UX design and what each discipline entails before you make your decision. In this article, we will break down the differences between UI and UX design and give some tips on how to choose between the two when hiring designers or contractors.
What is User Interface (UI) Design?
User interface (UI) design refers to elements that surround a user when he or she interacts with your product. It is crucial for good user experience (UX), but it isn’t necessarily the same thing as UX design. The goal of UI design is to provide users with an engaging, fluid experience. A well-designed user interface makes interacting with your website or app intuitive, simple, and fun for visitors.
Defining User Experience (UX) Design
User experience (UX) is a measure of how satisfied you are with your product or service. Good UX designers study how users interact with their products through these senses to provide users an overall enjoyable experience that enhances productivity and/or entertainment.
How do you combine the two into one role?
If you want to hire a professional UI/UX design company it’s important to know what role your new hire will fill. In some cases, an individual designer will fill both roles—this person is often referred to as a full-stack or creative designer. Others companies employ multiple designers with distinct roles; for example, one may handle web design while another takes care of print layouts. The latter is more common—and ensures that each function gets its own dedicated expert.
Key differences in project scope
When hiring a designer, it’s important to understand that there are key differences in project scope between user interface (UI) designers and user experience (UX) designers. While both create visual elements for an interface, a UI designer will focus primarily on how elements look, whereas a UX designer will focus on how easy those elements are to use. In some cases, these roles can be combined into one job description—it all depends on what exactly you need from your designer.
Conclusion
As you can see, much of a successful business is based on how things look. Whether it’s designing a user interface or hiring a user experience designer, it all comes down to aesthetics. When your website looks good, so does your company. When your company website looks good, so do you! Get help from someone who can make sure that first impression makes a lasting one. (Say something about how if you have any questions get in touch with them).
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