Why UX is not UI

Too often we think that the value of UX is high fidelity wireframes, things that we can see, however UX involves many steps and process which are so important in ensuring the solution adds value to customers lives.

User Experience (UX) refers to the overall experience a user has while interacting with a product or service. It encompasses a wide range of aspects, including usability, accessibility, performance, design/aesthetics, utility, ergonomics, overall human interaction, and marketing.

On the other hand, User Interface (UI) is the series of screens, pages, buttons, icons, and other visual elements that enable a user to interact with a product or service. It’s about the look and feel of the product, its responsiveness, and interactivity.

Why UX is Not UI

1. Scope and Focus: UX is about the entire journey a user takes, including their emotions, attitudes, responses, and satisfaction level. It’s about solving a user’s problem and providing a seamless experience. UI, however, is about the aesthetics of a product – its look, feel, and interactivity. It’s about making the product visually appealing and intuitive to use.

1. Different Skill Sets: UX designers are primarily concerned with how the product feels. They explore many different approaches to solving a specific user problem, using tools like user personas, wireframes, and prototypes. UI designers, however, are concerned with how the product is laid out. They design each screen or page with which a user interacts, ensuring the UI visually communicates the path laid out by the UX designer.

1. Different Goals: The goal of UX design is to create a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable experience that helps users achieve their goals. The goal of UI design is to visually guide the user through a product’s interface, making it attractive, easy to navigate, and responsive.

1. Measure of Success: The success of good UX design is measured by user satisfaction, the ease of use, and the overall feel of the journey. In contrast, the success of good UI design is measured by the aesthetic appeal, the intuitiveness of the layout, and the responsiveness of the interface.

While UX and UI must work hand-in-hand to create an excellent product, they play distinct roles in the process. UX is about the overall feel of the experience, while UI is about how the product’s interfaces look and function. Understanding the difference between UX and UI is crucial for creating products that not only look good but also deliver a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Remember, a product with an excellent user interface but poor user experience is like a beautiful car that doesn’t run. Both UX and UI need to be executed flawlessly to create a product that users will love.