UX vs. UI Design: What is the Difference?

It can be confusing for folks as the two terms UI and UX are sometimes used interchangeably and sometimes incorrectly.

If you have ever found yourself wondering the same, “What is UI, What is UX, and What is really the difference between UX design and UI Design?", this post is here to help you get a better understanding!

Have you ever seen a house being made? If UX is the foundation that determines how each room connects to each other, how the doors and staircase is placed, then UI is the art of decorating with the paintings and styling with the furniture.

UX Design refers to User Experience Design, UI Design means User Interface Design. Both of which are essential to product or digital service design and work together.

What is UI Design?
User Interface (UI) is the aesthetic element that the user interacts with the series of screens, pages, and visual elements- buttons, icons, typography, colors, menu bars- that enable the user to touch, hear and feel. UI has a focus on the look and functionality of the product and a UI designer can be found working on the visual design through wireframes and mockups.

What is UX Design?
User experience (UX) is the experience that the user has while interacting with a digital product - be it positive, negative or neutral. UX has a focus on the user and their journey - the emotions, behaviours and the visual experience for the users.

Explore: User experience (UX) designer Job

What is the Difference between the Two? 
Both have similarities and overlaps, but are different in application:

• UI is all about the interaction with the user and UX is all about functionality of the product.
• UI design includes aesthetics of what the user sees, hears and feels, UX has a social aspect of what the client needs and what the market wants.
• UI consists of technical design and production of the product and UX focuses on managing the product journey through the idea to the concept and finally to the development.

As a designer you need to know that both UI and UX are the secret ingredients for connecting visual design to the best possible user experience. Find more UI/UX design inspiration.