Yes, there is a distinct difference between UX vs UI Design. I’m not sure how these became so intertwined to the point that a lot of people view and consider them one and the same, i.e. UX/UI Design. While there is absolutely some overlap, the purpose of this post is to articulate the distinct differences between the two.
UX vs UI Design: Definitions
UX Design
User Experience Design is focused on the entire experience a user has as they engage with a product, app, or website.
UI Design
User Interface Design is focused on the elements that a user interacts with while engaging a product, app, or website.
UX vs UI Design: Skills
UX Skills
- Performing research
- Defining criteria, processes, and goals
- Documenting user journies
- Organizing information architecture
- Designing flowcharts, wireframes, and prototypes
- Evaluating effectiveness based upon analytics
UI Skills
- Design systems
- Visual communication
- Image and graphic design
- Style design: color scheme, typography, and icons
- Element design: buttons, forms, and containers
UX vs UI Design: Practical Application
In reality, both UX and UI designers have a lot of the same skills. Most UX designers are very comfortable with visual design and the associated tools. Likewise, most UI designers are very knowledgeable in several areas of UX design – specifically things like wireframes and flowcharts.
Many businesses rely on UX designers that have both skillsets and can fulfill the responsibilities of both roles – hence the common term UX/UI Designer. Keep in mind that this does not inidicate that the two areas of expertise are one-and-the-same. Rather, this term indicates a designer than can handle both in a competant manner.
UX vs UI Design: Development Experience
I feel there is one more concept that should be included in this article, and that’s how “development” fits into either of these roles. So here’s a very brief rundown of how both front-end and back-end development play into this equation:
Development skills of a UX Designer
A UX Designer should have a strong understanding of both back-end and front-end development – both the full gamut of languages as well as common platforms and frameworks. UX Designers are often viewed as the bridge between the developers and designers.
One of my favorite sayings is: “With unlimited time and unlimited money, we can build anything.” Since none of us live in that dream world, UX designers are tasked with drawing the line between must-haves and nice-to-haves. To effectively execute this responsibility, UX Designers must have a solid understanding of programming languages, platforms, and frameworks to effectively make these decisions.
Development skills of a UI Designer
Knowledge of front-end development is beyond critical for an effective UI Designer, who should be well-versed in HTML, Javascript, and CSS. UI Designers need to know the limitations of what can actually be built and the impacts of design choices on things like performance.
For example, a transparent box with a blurred background may look amazing in Photoshop, but anyone using the Firefox browser will never see the blurred effect. Similarly, a video background may have a powerful effect for desktop users on a wifi connection, but create a frustrating experience for users on a mobile device over a limited cellular connection.
Usually, UI Designers have some level of front-end development experience. And a “top-notch” designer will have all of the same skills as a front-end developer.
UX vs UI Design: Which one do you need?
In short, the more complex your application is, the more you will benefit from multiple designers with complimentary skill sets.
Because of the overlap of skills though, you may benefit from finding a designer that can fill more than one of these roles. In fact, most website designers perform all three duties (UX, UI, and Development) as a single service.
From a budgetary perspective, it may seem intuitive that hiring one person who can do everything is going to be the most cost effective approach. That assumption is only accurate though when the selected designer is equally capable of every responsibility. A great UI designer, who is a less than mediocre developer, will likely cost a lot more than hiring highly-skilled individuals for each role.
So the most accurate answer to this question is (unfortunately) it depends. It depends on your specific needs AND it depends on the individuals you are considering, along with the specific skills that each brings to the table.
That being said, if you can acurately define and prioritize your needs, a grounded understanding of the differences between UX vs UI Design should help you make the best decision.