UX and UI design have a particular relationship, both are oriented to improve the usability of applications or programs by end users. However, each of them has a very different function in the development and programming process.
Although UX and UI design are often confused, each has an important role to play in the development of apps and software.
Here we explain what UX and UI design are, their differences and everything you need to know about them for app and software development.
What is UX design?
UX or User eXperience design is a branch of programming and web development that focuses on designing the user experience with a given app or program. Its ultimate goal is to create simple, relevant and efficient experiences for end users.
UX design is composed of a series of stages with which you can guarantee the final goal. These are:
- Research. Research must be done to identify what is needed in the company for the end user.
- Analyze. The objectives of the project are defined.
- Design. The prototype and flows are established.
- Apply user testing. Development is launched and valuable feedback is obtained.
… What about UI design?
Meanwhile, UI (User Interface) design focuses on defining and creating the visual style layer. Here, the colors, typography, graphics and layout of the app or software are studied.
While UX design makes the app or software useful, UI design focuses on making it pleasant and usable for the user.
In UI design the goal is to make the app or program a pleasant, interactive and intuitive product, which works as the perfect complement to everything that is developed in UX design.
What is the difference between UX and UI design?
After knowing what UX and UI design encompasses, the difference that separates them may be clearer. You should keep in mind that both are complementary and not the same. Take a look at the most representative differences between the two:
- UX design focuses on identifying and providing solutions to user problems.
- UI design focuses on creating interactive, intuitive, aesthetic and friendly user interfaces.
- UX design is the one that precedes UI design in most cases in the development process.
- UX design outlines the user journey within the application or software.
- UI design complements that previously designed journey and experience with visual assets, buttons and interactive elements.
- While UX design can be applied to all types of user experiences, UI design is exclusive to digital experiences.
What difference do you find between UX and UI in software product development?
Now, specifically in software product development, UX and UI design have the big difference in that one is followed by the other. First you develop the research part, the customer journey and the problem that the software to be developed solves.
After that, the UI design comes in to do its part, completing that experience with the last layer of development, in which the points of contact between the user and the program are modeled and developed.
In this way, all the functionality that is planned with the UX design in the initial stage, becomes usable and to the liking of the end users.
What should a UX UI designer know?
A UX and UI designer is an integral and multidisciplinary professional in which different characteristics, knowledge, competencies and complementary skills stand out. These are some of them:
- Knows how to conduct, facilitate and analyze research and data.
- Has mastery of composition and graphic design.
- Has talent and knowledge about color palettes, typography and understanding of brand identity.
- He is a professional in careers such as systems engineering, graphic design, social communication, advertising and related fields, with specialization in UX/UI design.
- He/she has technical skills such as project management, information architecture, Design Thinking, coding or programming principles, user and context research, among others.
- He/she usually has interpersonal skills and abilities such as analysis, adaptability, critical thinking, active listening and critical thinking.
Why should you involve UX UI designers in your software and app creation process?
It is essential to include UX and UI designers in the software and app development process because they are the best qualified to make your technological investment the one with the best return. With this type of professionals you have an additional guarantee of achieving the proposed objectives with the project.
Of course, for some companies it is out of their budget to include an in-house UX/UI designer. This professional is dedicated to your project to elaborate the information architecture, design the interfaces and user experience, previously defined in the management and development stages of the software. Additionally, we have other roles according to the needs of your company.
The great advantage of our services is that we develop each project in an iterative, incremental, agile and flexible way. This allows us to deliver software or apps in a space of weeks, reducing uncertainty, risks and seeing satisfactory results.
Conclusions
UX and UI Design are complementary but not the same. The former focuses on defining and creating the user experience, while the latter complements it with friendly, intuitive and aesthetic user interfaces.
The UX/UI designer is an indispensable professional within the software or app project, as he/she is key to achieve the objective and obtain the best return on technological investment. Their professional profile is multidisciplinary and involves professional and technical knowledge and transversal interpersonal skills.
