If you’ve ever encountered the terms UX and UI in conversations about technology, design, or digital product creation, you might have been confused about what they really mean. These acronyms are often seen together, and while they are complementary, they represent distinct areas that have a huge impact on how we interact with digital tools.
Let’s explain what each of them involves, their particularities, and where they connect. Enjoy the reading!
What is UX?
UX, or User Experience, refers to the user’s experience when interacting with a product, service, or system. It’s about how the person feels, how simple the interaction is, and whether the product meets their expectations and needs. In other words, UX is concerned with ensuring that every step of the user journey is smooth and functional.
For example, imagine you are using a food delivery app. From finding the dish you’re looking for to completing the payment, everything should be quick and hassle-free. If it takes you a while to figure out how to search for a restaurant or you encounter barriers when trying to complete your order, that means the experience is poorly planned. On the other hand, when everything works clearly and you don’t face difficulties completing tasks, the UX is fulfilling its purpose.
A UX designer’s job begins even before the product takes shape. It’s necessary to understand who the users are, what problems need to be solved, and what can be done to improve the interaction.
This includes conducting research, analysis, interviews, and testing ideas with real users, constantly adjusting details to ensure the final result is useful and intuitive. Ultimately, UX is about solving problems and making the lives of the people who will use the product easier.
What is UI?
UI, which stands for User Interface, refers to the interface of the user — what you see and interact with directly in a system. While UX focuses on the overall experience, UI focuses on the visual design and interactive elements that make that experience possible.
If you go back to the food delivery app example, UI is what defines how the “place order” button appears on the screen, what the background color is, the animations applied, how the fonts are chosen, and how the icons guide navigation. The goal is to create a clear, beautiful, and functional interface where everything is organized so the user knows exactly what to do.
The work of UI requires attention to various details. It’s necessary to ensure that the colors align with the brand identity, that the layout is easy to understand, and that interactive elements like buttons and menus function consistently. Additionally, the design needs to consider accessibility issues, ensuring that people with different needs can use the system without difficulties.
How do UX and UI connect?
Although different, UX and UI are deeply interconnected. While UX focuses on planning and strategy, UI aims to make these ideas tangible through visual and interactive elements. They don’t work in isolation: a successful project requires a balance between both areas.
To understand this relationship, imagine a restaurant. UX would be the planning of the experience, from the clarity of the menu to the efficiency of service, ensuring that the customer can choose and receive their dish without problems. UI, on the other hand, would be the presentation of the dish, the decoration of the environment, and the design of the menu — elements that make the experience visually appealing and memorable.
In the digital world, this partnership is evident. A website, for instance, needs to be functional and easy to navigate, which depends on good UX work. But it also needs to be visually organized, with colors and elements that guide the user’s gaze, which is the job of UI. One without the other can compromise the success of the product.
But what are the differences between UX and UI?
Although connected, UX and UI have distinct focuses. UX is concerned with the overall experience, while UI focuses on the visual and interactive details. UX begins first, planning and organizing how the product should function. UI comes next, designing the interface that will give shape to the ideas.
In practice, this means that UX focuses on the user’s behavior, while UI works on how this experience will be presented. UX defines what the system needs to do to meet the needs of the audience, while UI is responsible for clearly bringing these solutions to the interface.
Why is understanding the difference important?
Understanding the difference between UX and UI helps to see the role each area plays in the creation of digital products. Often, problems in a system arise because one of these areas was prioritized over the other.
An app may have a beautiful design but be frustrating to use because the UX wasn’t well thought out. On the other hand, it could be functional but visually unappealing, deterring users who seek a more modern and clear interface.
When UX and UI are aligned, the result is a complete experience. The user doesn’t need to struggle to figure out how to use the product, and the interaction becomes pleasant. This makes life easier for people and increases the chances of retaining them.
With technology becoming an increasingly present part of our daily lives, understanding the difference between UX and UI helps to appreciate the importance of well-executed design that aligns with user needs. After all, a good idea only becomes a good product when it’s thought through and executed in a comprehensive way, combining functionality and beauty.
Speaking of good ideas, you should stay informed about the importance of social media in your company’s routine. Check out our article on the topic!
Escrito por:
Willian Lopes, UX&UI Global Leader
at Corebiz
