UX vs. UI: The Difference Everyone Needs to Understand (Once and For All!)
Have UX and UI always confused you? I've been there too. Let me break down the difference in a super simple way, using everyday examples you can relate to.
Insights
Oct 2, 2024
The Explanation That Worked for Me: The Restaurant Example
Think about the last time you had an amazing experience at a restaurant. What made it so good?
UX (User Experience) is EVERYTHING you FELT:
Was it easy to park?
Was the server attentive and quick?
Was the menu easy to understand?
Did the food arrive in a reasonable time?
Was the table comfortable?
In short: UX is about how you FELT. Was it a smooth, stress-free experience?
UI (User Interface) is how everything was PRESENTED:
Was your plate arranged nicely and look appealing?
Did the menu have a cool font and was it visually pleasing?
Was the decor stylish and inviting?
In short: UI is about the VISUAL part. It's what delights your eyes.
Here's the key insight: The food could be divine (beautiful UI), but if the service is terrible and you wait 2 hours (awful UX), you won't want to go back. The overall experience was poor.
Bringing It to Our World: A Button in an App
Let's say I'm designing a "Buy Now" button for an app.
How I think about the UX (the experience):
Where do I place this button so it's super easy to find?
Is "Buy Now" the best text? Or is "Add to Bag" clearer?
What happens after the user clicks? Do they get a confirmation?
My focus here is: Does this work well? Is it intuitive?
How I think about the UI (the interface):
What button color draws attention without being aggressive?
Does it need a shadow? A gradient?
Does it change color on hover?
My focus here is: Is this visually appealing? Does it fit the app's identity?
The Essential Partnership
The most important thing is that UX and UI don't fight; they dance together.
As a designer, I need to wear both hats. First, I make sure the user's journey makes sense (the UX). Then, I clothe that journey with an interface that is clear, pleasant, and conveys the right emotion (the UI).
One isn't more important than the other. They complete each other. A successful digital product needs to be useful and easy to use (good UX) and enjoyable to look at and interact with (good UI).
Conclusion
I hope this explanation has helped! This is the clarity I wish I'd had when I was starting out. At the end of the day, my job is to ensure the products I create not only solve a problem but are also a pleasure to use.
If you have a project in mind and want to chat about how to improve its experience and interface, connect with me on LinkedIn and let's talk!
More to Discover
UX vs. UI: The Difference Everyone Needs to Understand (Once and For All!)
Have UX and UI always confused you? I've been there too. Let me break down the difference in a super simple way, using everyday examples you can relate to.
Insights
Oct 2, 2024
The Explanation That Worked for Me: The Restaurant Example
Think about the last time you had an amazing experience at a restaurant. What made it so good?
UX (User Experience) is EVERYTHING you FELT:
Was it easy to park?
Was the server attentive and quick?
Was the menu easy to understand?
Did the food arrive in a reasonable time?
Was the table comfortable?
In short: UX is about how you FELT. Was it a smooth, stress-free experience?
UI (User Interface) is how everything was PRESENTED:
Was your plate arranged nicely and look appealing?
Did the menu have a cool font and was it visually pleasing?
Was the decor stylish and inviting?
In short: UI is about the VISUAL part. It's what delights your eyes.
Here's the key insight: The food could be divine (beautiful UI), but if the service is terrible and you wait 2 hours (awful UX), you won't want to go back. The overall experience was poor.
Bringing It to Our World: A Button in an App
Let's say I'm designing a "Buy Now" button for an app.
How I think about the UX (the experience):
Where do I place this button so it's super easy to find?
Is "Buy Now" the best text? Or is "Add to Bag" clearer?
What happens after the user clicks? Do they get a confirmation?
My focus here is: Does this work well? Is it intuitive?
How I think about the UI (the interface):
What button color draws attention without being aggressive?
Does it need a shadow? A gradient?
Does it change color on hover?
My focus here is: Is this visually appealing? Does it fit the app's identity?
The Essential Partnership
The most important thing is that UX and UI don't fight; they dance together.
As a designer, I need to wear both hats. First, I make sure the user's journey makes sense (the UX). Then, I clothe that journey with an interface that is clear, pleasant, and conveys the right emotion (the UI).
One isn't more important than the other. They complete each other. A successful digital product needs to be useful and easy to use (good UX) and enjoyable to look at and interact with (good UI).
Conclusion
I hope this explanation has helped! This is the clarity I wish I'd had when I was starting out. At the end of the day, my job is to ensure the products I create not only solve a problem but are also a pleasure to use.
If you have a project in mind and want to chat about how to improve its experience and interface, connect with me on LinkedIn and let's talk!
More to Discover
UX vs. UI: The Difference Everyone Needs to Understand (Once and For All!)
Have UX and UI always confused you? I've been there too. Let me break down the difference in a super simple way, using everyday examples you can relate to.
Insights
Oct 2, 2024
The Explanation That Worked for Me: The Restaurant Example
Think about the last time you had an amazing experience at a restaurant. What made it so good?
UX (User Experience) is EVERYTHING you FELT:
Was it easy to park?
Was the server attentive and quick?
Was the menu easy to understand?
Did the food arrive in a reasonable time?
Was the table comfortable?
In short: UX is about how you FELT. Was it a smooth, stress-free experience?
UI (User Interface) is how everything was PRESENTED:
Was your plate arranged nicely and look appealing?
Did the menu have a cool font and was it visually pleasing?
Was the decor stylish and inviting?
In short: UI is about the VISUAL part. It's what delights your eyes.
Here's the key insight: The food could be divine (beautiful UI), but if the service is terrible and you wait 2 hours (awful UX), you won't want to go back. The overall experience was poor.
Bringing It to Our World: A Button in an App
Let's say I'm designing a "Buy Now" button for an app.
How I think about the UX (the experience):
Where do I place this button so it's super easy to find?
Is "Buy Now" the best text? Or is "Add to Bag" clearer?
What happens after the user clicks? Do they get a confirmation?
My focus here is: Does this work well? Is it intuitive?
How I think about the UI (the interface):
What button color draws attention without being aggressive?
Does it need a shadow? A gradient?
Does it change color on hover?
My focus here is: Is this visually appealing? Does it fit the app's identity?
The Essential Partnership
The most important thing is that UX and UI don't fight; they dance together.
As a designer, I need to wear both hats. First, I make sure the user's journey makes sense (the UX). Then, I clothe that journey with an interface that is clear, pleasant, and conveys the right emotion (the UI).
One isn't more important than the other. They complete each other. A successful digital product needs to be useful and easy to use (good UX) and enjoyable to look at and interact with (good UI).
Conclusion
I hope this explanation has helped! This is the clarity I wish I'd had when I was starting out. At the end of the day, my job is to ensure the products I create not only solve a problem but are also a pleasure to use.
If you have a project in mind and want to chat about how to improve its experience and interface, connect with me on LinkedIn and let's talk!