When we discuss tech, we often may come across the term UI/UX design, especially when we refer to how users interact with a website, a particular software, a mobile app, or other technological aspects that people use in a digital capacity.
UI/UX refers to user interface and user experience respectively. We need professionals in this area to understand and implement what users want out of a service or product and how they can use it the best.
So, what does a UI/UX designer actually do? To really break it down, let’s go over what both UI and UX truly mean. While you can excel in one or the other, both go hand-in-hand to complement each other and offer the best experience to users and clients.
What is User Interface (UI)?
The graphical layout of a program, application, or website is known as the user interface. Where the buttons are, what text is displayed across the page and where, image layout, scrollbars, and other interactive features are what the user interface consists of. This also includes what is known as micro-interactions such as animations, screen layout, visual elements, and more.
The job of UI designers is to come up with what the program or application is really going to look like, and this involves deciding factors like the thickness of lines, fonts to be used, colour schemes, and button shapes. They’re responsible for what type of feeling an application will emulate.
In essence, UI designers are also graphic designers. They care about how attractive the appearance of the application is and if the design matches the intended purpose. It should be comfortable to look at and use while also having visually stimulating elements. They make sure the visual aspects are serving their responsibilities while also being practical and accessible to use.
What is User Experience (UX)?
User experience is concerned with how people interact with the application. It determines whether the experience is easy to use or frustrating to navigate. Does it make sense to work with? Is it flowing properly? How efficient is the process? These are some of the questions that user experience designers will ask to make sure interacting with the program does not introduce any difficulties.
UX design is also the process of developing and constantly improving the quality of the interaction between the user and the facets. It’s more concerned with psychology related to cognitive science rather than the visual aspect. Teams use the UX design process to create services and products that give the user a meaningful experience, from a branding, design, usability, and functional perspective.
UX designers are focused on the human experience, and to design for people also means that there’s a heightened expectation of accommodation for users with physical limitations, which they also need to take into account (such as large text size for accessibility).
What’s the difference between UI and UX?
In basic terms, UI designers have the task of figuring out and deciding how the interface will look. UX designers care about how exactly the interface really operates with the user. UI focuses on interfaces on the visual side such as menu bars and typography while UX focuses on the user’s journey through the use of the product.
A UX and UI certificate can help you to get on a path in this field. While these two areas are separate and serve their own purpose, you don’t have to choose to be just one or the other. There are UI/UX design courses in Canada that you can choose to take to improve your skills and get an exciting career as a UI/UX developer.
If this is a career that interests you, ABM College’s UI/UX design diploma program can get you the skills and training you need to be successful in this field. Offering both UI and UX training, you get increased value and the dual skillset you need to thrive in this field. Contact us today for more information.