UI/UX and Graphic Design

Digital design is constantly evolving each day with significant improvements and updates.?

The most common terms used today in digital design are UI, UX and graphic design.

UI stands for User Interface. This is basically how the user views and interacts with the application and the product on devices. It is the design and layout of the application.

The UI of any application is vital because it is the user’s first impression of the product, and just like how we view everything else in life, first impressions are critical.?

On the other hand, UX is the design of the user experience. There are three main questions UX designers have to work on while providing a seamless user experience for a product.

Why? What? and How?

"Why" should the user buy the product? Here, the main idea is to give the user a reason or motivation to purchase the product.?

The goal of a UX designer is to retain the user's attention on the product page.?

"What" is the product’s functionality? The answer to this question is to highlight the product and its functionality for the user.?

"How" to purchase the product? The UX designer is responsible for creating a seamless design of the website or application for the product.

The tasks of a UX designer vary from research to understanding user psychology and user requirements to providing the means for purchasing the product.?

Graphic design is made up of visual and design elements. It is the process of visualising an idea or message and digitising it through text, audio, video and imagery.

Visual elements primarily consist of lines, colour, shape, texture, space, form and typography.

The design elements relate to imagination, problem solving and practicality. There are specific key ‘principles of design’ in design theory that every designer should adhere to. They are contrast, hierarchy, simplicity, alignment, repetition, proximity, balance and function.

Graphic design is a broad term that branches into several subdomains like motion graphics design, visual identity graphic design, digital art and illustrations, commercial graphic design, etc.??

It is essential to be aware of these classifications to ensure the suitable type of graphic design is implemented for the right job.?

For example, a graphic designer who designs a product's packaging should not use too many illustrations or artsy drawings. This defeats the entire purpose of package design: to highlight the product and its features.

Today, graphic design has more scope in the commercial space. There is a surge in demand for graphic designers in advertising, branding, web design, interface design, TV motion graphics and infographics.?

I believe graphic design is the unity of two opposing forces, artistic expression and practical application. When these two forces work in harmony, one can create excellent visual communication.

By Nanda Kishore