UI vs UX

UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are two co-dependent terms. UI deals with the interaction between users and computer systems, software, and applications. On the other hand, UX deals more with a user’s overall experience with a brand, product, or service.

To understand better the difference between UI and UX let’s work on an example. UI tends to work with the actual features of a device. The features include the screen, buttons, scrolling features, sound, etc. Whereas, UX deals with everything user experiences from start to finish.

It is easy to get confused when choosing between UI vs UX as they are closely connected. Remember that UI is functional; UX is psychological. In a practical example, UI is your Instagram profile and UX is you in real life. Now let’s dive deep into both individually to understand their function better.

What is UI?

The UI as you already know is the user interface that depicts the point of human-computer interaction in a device. It is also the way through which a user interacts with an application or a website. Businesses nowadays are depending on web applications and mobile applications. This has led to increased priority on UI to improve the user’s overall experience.

What is UX?

UX as you know is User experience design that is the human-first way of designing products. UX is basically all aspects of the end-users interaction with the services or products of a company. A UX Design involves all interactions between a customer and a company. UX always comes first in user experience. The work of UX starts with research of the users to understand their needs. They take a note of the entire user journey and work to improve it. UX also creates wireframes of their findings and makes the recommendations. 

Types of User Interfaces

• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Command-line interface (CLI)
• Menu-driven user interface
• Touch user interface
• Voice user interface (VUI)
• Form-based user interface
• Natural language user interface

Examples of User Interfaces

• Computer mouse
• Remote control
• Virtual reality
• ATMs

For instance, Airbnb, Dropbox, etc have a strong user interface design. These websites have created pleasant, easily operable, designs that focus on the user and their needs.

UI vs UX

It is true that UX and UI are interrelated but there are a few key differences too that exist. UI deals precisely with digital devices. Its focus is on the ability to use them. The table below will make it easy to understand. 

UI	UX
Deals with Interaction	Deals with Visual
Charts the user pathway	Chooses colour and typography
Information planner	Visual planner
Works to give seamlessness, responsiveness, and the overall user experience	Works on the elements, tools, technical activities, and digital interfaces
Works with wireframes, prototypes and research	Works with mock-ups, graphics and layouts

Now you must have understood that UX is more about how a product makes you feel and UI is more about how it looks. Both employ different skill sets to work at different stages in the consumer experience process. 

How do UI and UX work together?

Both UI and UX play key roles in the product development lifecycle. They are fundamental disciplines with a similar focus that paves the way for the vital end-product. These disciplines may have separate organizational roles but are incomplete without each other. UX is more of a data-driven projection, vs UI, which on the other hand takes the design patterns and tiniest of details into consideration. In simple words, UI design is about creating a delightful layout that is enjoyable. UX design makes the usage seamless and systematic.

How to Become a UI/UX Designer?

Get a Professional Degree or Certifications if you are willing to become a UI/UX. A degree course in UI/UX will teach you the technical skills that will help you to gain experience in working with UI/UX Designer tools. It will input basic knowledge of certain programming languages. To get into an undergraduate degree in UI/UX Design, you must obtain 10 + 2 certificates from a recognized institution. It is to inform you that you can pursue your 10+2 from any stream. But if you already have an undergraduate degree then you can go for a master’s to become a UI/UX Designer.

Courses

Here is a list of courses for undergraduates and postgraduates that are available all over the globe to students who want to pursue a career in design.

Undergraduate Programs	Postgraduate program
BDes in User Experience Design	MDes in User Experience Design
BDes in Communication Design	MDes in Interaction Design
BDes UX, BSc in UI Design and Development	Master of Design in UX
BDes in Interaction Design	Master of Arts in Interaction Design
BDes in Visual Communication	Master in User Experience Design
BSc in UI and Graphics Design	MA Visual & Experience Design
BCA (Design-Animation/Graphics/UI-UX)	Master of Science in User Experience

Top Universities

1. Carnegie Mellon University
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. University of Washington – Seattle
4. Stanford University
5. University of Maryland – College Park
6. University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
7. University of California – Berkeley
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
9. University of Glasgow
10. Arizona State University – Tempe

Which One to Choose as Your Career Path?

Both, UX designers and UI designers work on creating beautiful interfaces. Yet, their involvement is required at different times. UI designers are responsible for creating aesthetically beautiful interfaces. They take the wireframes from UX designers to work as blueprints for stylistic elements. UI designers can be called “the brains behind the beauty” that handles the interactivity of a site. UI designers earn an average annual salary of $76,115 (INR 60.60 Lakhs).

Similarly, UX designers identify problems and make interfaces as easy to use as possible. They are known for ensuring the intuitiveness of all designs and taking on a variety of roles from recruiting or screening potential users to usability. Rethinking wireframes on technical limitations or feedback. UX designer’s goal is to increase sign-ups and create a clear dashboard of information. Hence, UX designers work closely with UI designers, project managers, and front-end developers. They understand a project lifecycle and its basic technical component. UX designers earn an average annual salary of $85,277 (INR 67.90 Lakhs).

Many companies request expertise in any one of them but if you know both then you are at a competitive advantage. Simply if you can do both, then you are capable of both the analytical and project management pieces, also adding the necessary aesthetics and interactions will lead you to get more paid. 

FAQs

There has always been confusion about the difference between UI vs UX design and which one to choose. Hope this blog helps understand the difference and also helps to choose the right career for you. UI and UX design are completely different as UI is all about the presentation and UX is all about the experience with the product. Still can’t make up your mind? Then, contact Leverage Edu and get expert guidance to choose the right career option.