UX and UI are not trends. They are the future. The demand for websites is growing. Mobile apps are popping up like mushrooms. Design and development tools got so simple that it seems like ten-year-old can make a website today.
But how will this website look? Will it perform its tasks? This is where you might need the help of a UX/UI designer. Let’s find out more about UX and UI.
WHAT IS UX/UI?
UX
UX stands for User Experience. In simple words, this is how the user interacts with the interface and how comfortable the site or app is for the users. UX consists of site navigation, menu functionality, and the experience of interacting with pages.
But UX is not only the "backbone", the structure of the site. It is also responsible for communication: dialog boxes, button functionality, search and form settings. It is the quality of UX that determines how quickly the user can get what he came for.
UI
UI is the User Interface, or in simple words, what the user is looking at: color combos, fonts, icons and buttons. In modern design, UX and UI are almost always intertwined. While UX is the function of the app, UI is its face. UI tasks include:
UX PROJECTS VS UI PROJECTS
However, there are projects where UX is more important, and projects that are based mostly on UI.
UX is crucial in designing CRM systems, dashboards and internal system interfaces. The visual part takes a back seat here – the convenience of data arrangement is more important.
UI plays a key role in creating online “image-makers” – websites promoting premium goods and services. The main task here is not just quickly leading users to conversions, but letting them examine the interface, immerse themselves and enjoy the atmosphere.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF UX/UI
The very concept of UX was first formulated only in the early nineties. It was invented by psychologist and designer Donald Norman, who at that time was with the Apple team. He fully described the term in his book The Design of Everyday Things.
Apple has paid great attention to usability from the very beginning, and its interfaces are still considered among the best.
HOW TO BECOME A UX/UI DESIGNER IN IT?
Working with UX / UI requires more of a mathematical mindset than classic graphic design – because web-products are based not only on beautiful visual, but also on effective interactions.
UX / UI designers normally work in IT companies, creating applications, search services, making interfaces for neural networks and other tech products.
It is worth noting that UX / UI design is a relatively young field, allowing to get into IT through a less competitive environment than purely technical specialties.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO BECOME A UX/UI DESIGNER FROM SCRATCH?
If you already have experience in graphic or web design, mastering UX / UI will be easier. You already know the main working tools. But even in this case, you will have to study a lot of new information – user behavior, psychology of perception, analytics and research methods.
If you have not yet been engaged in design, in parallel with the theory, you will need to learn graphic programs. The main ones are:
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO MASTER?
It is necessary to be able to analyze competitors, to come up with a portrait of the target audience and a unique selling proposition.
It is important to be proficient in business analysis and to know how to map user paths to achieve the goals of the business.
It will help to use patterns of user behavior and principles of visual perception.
You’ll have to master some computer programs. There's no way around it.
An ability to track modern visual trends and apply them in practice.
It is needed for efficient interaction with the layout designer during the site handover.
IN A NUTSHELL
The difference between UX and UI is that the UX designer plans how you will interact with the interface and what steps you’ll need to take to get things done. The UI designer decides how each of these steps will look like.
As you can see from the text above, UX and UI are so closely related that sometimes the line between concepts is blurred. That is why, both UX and UI designers are usually one man, and the profession is written with.
But how will this website look? Will it perform its tasks? This is where you might need the help of a UX/UI designer. Let’s find out more about UX and UI.
WHAT IS UX/UI?
UX
UX stands for User Experience. In simple words, this is how the user interacts with the interface and how comfortable the site or app is for the users. UX consists of site navigation, menu functionality, and the experience of interacting with pages.
But UX is not only the "backbone", the structure of the site. It is also responsible for communication: dialog boxes, button functionality, search and form settings. It is the quality of UX that determines how quickly the user can get what he came for.
UI
UI is the User Interface, or in simple words, what the user is looking at: color combos, fonts, icons and buttons. In modern design, UX and UI are almost always intertwined. While UX is the function of the app, UI is its face. UI tasks include:
- Selection of corporate fonts and colors based on previous audience research. In some cases, they are written in the customer's brand book, but, as a rule, only big companies have clear instructions.
- Development of a set of basic site elements: icons, buttons, input fields, search bar. In the case of large projects, they can be combined into a UI kit, which other designers will then work with.
- Visualization of user interaction with the interface. At this stage, the necessary animation and micro-interactions/effects are developed.
UX PROJECTS VS UI PROJECTS
However, there are projects where UX is more important, and projects that are based mostly on UI.
UX is crucial in designing CRM systems, dashboards and internal system interfaces. The visual part takes a back seat here – the convenience of data arrangement is more important.
UI plays a key role in creating online “image-makers” – websites promoting premium goods and services. The main task here is not just quickly leading users to conversions, but letting them examine the interface, immerse themselves and enjoy the atmosphere.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF UX/UI
The very concept of UX was first formulated only in the early nineties. It was invented by psychologist and designer Donald Norman, who at that time was with the Apple team. He fully described the term in his book The Design of Everyday Things.
Apple has paid great attention to usability from the very beginning, and its interfaces are still considered among the best.
HOW TO BECOME A UX/UI DESIGNER IN IT?
Working with UX / UI requires more of a mathematical mindset than classic graphic design – because web-products are based not only on beautiful visual, but also on effective interactions.
UX / UI designers normally work in IT companies, creating applications, search services, making interfaces for neural networks and other tech products.
It is worth noting that UX / UI design is a relatively young field, allowing to get into IT through a less competitive environment than purely technical specialties.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO BECOME A UX/UI DESIGNER FROM SCRATCH?
If you already have experience in graphic or web design, mastering UX / UI will be easier. You already know the main working tools. But even in this case, you will have to study a lot of new information – user behavior, psychology of perception, analytics and research methods.
If you have not yet been engaged in design, in parallel with the theory, you will need to learn graphic programs. The main ones are:
- Figma – the ultimate prototyping and design tool;
- Adobe Photoshop – needed for rendering complex bitmap images;
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom – required for processing photos;
- Adobe After Effects – an editor for website animations.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO MASTER?
- Marketing
It is necessary to be able to analyze competitors, to come up with a portrait of the target audience and a unique selling proposition.
- Analytics
It is important to be proficient in business analysis and to know how to map user paths to achieve the goals of the business.
- Psychology
It will help to use patterns of user behavior and principles of visual perception.
- Technical skills
You’ll have to master some computer programs. There's no way around it.
- Visual experience
An ability to track modern visual trends and apply them in practice.
- Layout principles
It is needed for efficient interaction with the layout designer during the site handover.
IN A NUTSHELL
The difference between UX and UI is that the UX designer plans how you will interact with the interface and what steps you’ll need to take to get things done. The UI designer decides how each of these steps will look like.
As you can see from the text above, UX and UI are so closely related that sometimes the line between concepts is blurred. That is why, both UX and UI designers are usually one man, and the profession is written with.
