UI vs. UX: What’s the difference between the user interface and user experience?
‘’It is not about how innovative an idea is, but the impact it makes’’
Nowadays, it is not surprising to notice that digital products are facing the highest peak of their cycle, which has given us consumers an easier lifestyle. The digital world has become increasingly competitive over time and for that reason, having innovative ideas is yet not enough to succeed. What is truly more significant than having an innovative idea is to have a high impact on the market. Now ask yourself:
How can I come up with an impactful digital product?
In order to generate an impact on users, we need to be capable of creating solutions that could truly fulfill their needs, and by truly I mean to meticulously listen and understand the user’s struggle when it comes to developing a software solution. And this is where UX & UI design plays a significant role.
The first thing you need to understand is that UX and UI design are not the same. Even though they are closely related when it comes to software solution development, each of these designs has its own specific functionality.
UX design or User Experience design makes reference to the experience that a user has while navigating through a website or mobile app. The UX design focuses on optimizing and improving the product along with the user, this is done through the incorporation of wireframes and prototypes, navigation flows, distribution of elements, and a suitable architecture for a pleasant user experience.
On the other hand, UI design or User Interface refers to the graphic interface of the platform visited by users; it’s the combination of visual elements and technologies. Therefore visual design, the colors, typography, layout, among others are established so that the interface is specifically designed with the user’s experience in mind to be as aesthetically and friendly as possible while navigating on it.
How can I be creative?
Before we start, forget whatever you think you know about your user, leave that thought behind, and start believing that from now on your user´s problems are your own problems.
There are different methodologies to put into practice the UX/UI design, some of the carried-out activities are:
- User Investigation
Interviewing the users who are going to use your digital product is fundamental in order to understand not only their needs but their motivations and challenges. Talking with your target user broadens the possibilities and allows seeing through realities that you might have not possibly considered before.
- Content Strategies
The content should be created in accordance with the target audience; the style and personality are important aspects to match on your platform. It’s not the same to address a teenager than an older person. For instance, the message would possibly vary depending on the type of audience who’s receiving the information.
- Architecture Information
Here the content is organized and structured, so that it is grouped in the right way, but not how you think it should be organized, rather than how it could be more comprehensive and user friendly.
- Visual Design
This relates to the visual section of your product. Although it should be adapted to the content and structure of the platform, the design must be completely friendly to the user in order to maintain an agreeable experience.
- Design Interaction
It refers to the point of interaction between the user and your product, the development of previous or subsequent actions done by the users with the interface.
To generate the desired impact on users, your product must comply at least with these three fundamental aspects:
- Usability: The product should accomplish its functionalities.
- Accessibility: The product should be easy to understand by the user.
- Interaction: The product should be perceived in a positive way by the user.
The creation of a software product, either a mobile app or a website, is a process of constant growth that is built along with the user, to successfully create an optimized and complete digital product for them.
