More recently, a designer was just a specialist – it was given the task to “draw a website”, which it actually did, not dividing its work into UX and UI directions. The sites were generally similar in concept, know and do it “beautifully,” and the visuals were consistent with the brand message.
The creation of a website design now includes:
UX design (user experience) – that is, the development of the site architecture, the formation of logical schemes for the functioning of the interface, algorithms for its response to the actions of the visitor, drawing up a “path map” of the user, taking into account its experience and needs;
UI design (user interface) – that is, the embodiment of the visual component, drawing of all buttons, icons, blocks; selection of style and palette, fonts and, in general, the formation of a harmonious layout. Consider user interface design services by Dataart
It is still not clear what is the fundamental difference in directions, what is behind each and why the profession is still called a UX / UI designer, although it is already found out that these are fundamentally different things? You’ll find answers below – don’t switch.
What does a UX designer do?
In fact, the UX specialist is not really a designer, and if you pay closer attention to the English original of this name, you can see why. Designer is more of a design engineer than a master of visual concepts and harmonious palette.
A good example of the work of such specialists is the breakthrough of the Macintosh in 1984, when, instead of the command line, Apple’s designers offered the world windows.
This is why UX is much broader than simple site navigation. This is a whole concept, which is based on the most productive use of user experience to improve the product. It’s not just a user-friendly application form in the right place with the right fields. UX is the user’s experience of being on a site, a well-thought-out path that is taken from entering to completing a transaction.
Therefore, a UX designer:
- analyzes user behavior;
- builds logical schemes for the functioning of the site;
- thinks over the arrangement of interface elements;
- calculates connections between different elements;
- tests prototypes;
- makes technical assignments for design.
What does a UI designer do?
UI creation is actually the rendering of the prototype created. The designer decides what buttons, menus, sliders, illustrations, icons, fonts, color matching will be.
In its area of responsibility, control of all processes:
- Are the target action buttons convenient?
- Is the feedback form positioned correctly?
- What does the dropdown menu look like?
- How exactly will the site’s reaction to this or that visitor’s action look like, etc.
Is it 2-in-1?
The UX designer plans the interaction of the user with the interface, decides what and how he will do on the site, and the UI embodies all this in the visual. It turns out that the question of the difference between them is in itself not entirely correct – these concepts do not need to be compared, because they are part of the same process.
So why not combine? You probably thought, and so did the rest. Not surprisingly, job vacancies for designers are often put this way, through a slash – UX / UI designer.
To some extent, any good web designer combines UX / UI. When developing a website layout,it primarily considers usability, analyzes the buyer’s journey, and evaluates the existing user experience.
How to get into the profession?
UX / UI designer is one of the most in-demand digital professions right now, and it looks like the demand for specialists is only gaining momentum. Competition creates a demand for specialists who are able to “sell” a product through a user-friendly interface and well-thought-out visuals.
You can master the basics of the profession in a couple of months, improve – endlessly. The first orders will help to get a capacious portfolio, but where to get it for a beginner is a more difficult question.
The knowledge base on web design and cloud testing services is definitely needed. It is it who gives an understanding of the tools for work, all the necessary programs, teaches observation and helps to learn to feel trends.
Therefore, the best advice for a beginner is to master Figma, Photoshop, and deal with a vector – and it is best to do it under the guidance of a professional.
