When we think about web design, the first thing that comes to mind is often the visual aspects: what colours to use and what typography to choose, and we get lost in those elements. But good web design requires a solid user experience (UX) strategy and an effective user interface (UI) design, ensuring the result is not just visually appealing but coherent, reflective of your values, and user-friendly.
Let me explain a bit about these two terms, UX and UI, which you’ve probably been hearing about and might associate with the designer’s role or think are new professions that have emerged with the development of new technologies. It’s totally normal. Are UX and UI designer new professions? Well, the answer is ambiguous: yes and no. Sorry!
First, let’s clear up what UX Design and UI Design are, and then I’ll tell you why they are and aren’t new professions, okay? We don’t want to start building the house from the roof down.
What is UX Design?
UX design or User Experience design is the part that starts the story before the product or service reaches the user. It plans the entire process before we even start talking about designing an app, a website, or a product or service. In fact, within the UX role, we have the UX Designer and the UX Researcher, each defining their place in the design process. A UX professional has to think about the whole picture, the entire design process from start to finish, to make everything make sense and to ensure the experience, as the name suggests, is efficient and good.
“User experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products.”
Don Norman, inventor of the term “User Experience”
As you can see from Don Norman’s definition, the UX process could be applied to many things that don’t involve web design; for example, in the process of constructing a building, or the experience of shopping at a supermarket — is it easy to find the products you want?
What does a UX designer do?
A UX designer creates easy, efficient, and relevant experiences for users. This is not about visual terms but experiential ones. We used to talk about the psychology of advertising, which has evolved into User Experience. It’s about understanding how the user behaves and interacts with a product, service, or entity.
So, to give you a general idea, although everyone has their processes and techniques, you’ve probably seen in some movies a glass or whiteboard full of words, doodles, arrows, and descriptions like the photo below.
Does it ring a bell? Well, more or less, that’s the beginning of an idea and one of the processes UX designers usually follow. Ah! And I forgot, post-it notes are also a very coveted resource among UX designers, we love them!
What is UI design?
Once the UX is clarified, UI design translates this information visually. UI design, or user interface design, is the graphic part of an application or website, focusing on appearance and style.
UI design, unlike UX design, is fundamentally digital, though it’s often confused with graphic design.
What does a UI designer do?
Apart from appearance and style, which are also fundamentals of graphic design, the UI designer also takes care of the product or service interaction. They ensure that these products or services are as intuitive as possible. A UI designer considers the design of icons and buttons (also known as CTAs), typography, colour schemes, spacing between elements, images, and responsive design (adapted to all devices). Creating an intuitive experience is their goal, working closely with the UX designer to achieve a seamless result.
As you can see, both roles are quite important in the design process and have always existed, but they have evolved and will continue to do so. They work hand in hand throughout the process. Although a project starts with the UX designer and a clear, well-defined strategy for your product or service, the UX and UI designers always work together, reviewing and optimizing the product or service.
So now you know, don’t start by just making your website pretty. If you want a design that not only looks great but also functions well and is efficient, start with a solid UX strategy.
If you have any questions about your website, feel free to contact me HERE
