User Interface

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are two words that you might hear mentioned frequently in tech circles (and sometimes interchangeably). But what do the terms actually mean, and what does it mean to be a UX or UI designer?

UI refers to the screens, buttons, toggles, icons, and other visual elements that you interact with when using a website, app, or electronic device. UX refers to the entire interaction you have with a product, including how you feel about the interaction. While UI can certainly have an impact on UX, the two are distinct, as are the roles that designers play.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the roles of UX designer and UI designer overlap and differ and how to know which you should pursue. Finally, we’ll discuss options for getting started, even if you don’t have previous qualifications or experience.

Difference between UI and UX

Developing a product that people love often requires both good UI and good UX. For example, you could have a messaging app (such as WhatsApp) that looks great and has intuitive navigation (UI). But if the app loads slowly or makes you click through numerous screens to message someone (UX), it doesn’t matter how good it looks.? You’re probably not going to want to use it.

On the other hand, a website could be loaded with unique, helpful content organised in a logical and intuitive way. But if it looks dated or you can’t easily figure out how to move between screens or scroll through options, you’re likely to click away from the site.