What is UI and UX Design?

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UI and UX design are two of the most frequently misunderstood and muddled terms in web and app design.

It is common to hear phrases like “xyz website has a great UI” or “xyz app has a poor UX design”. What are they talking about? Why has UI/UX become so important for website or app design?

By the end of the article, you will not only be familiar with these terms but also be able to choose UI/UX design services for your business in a better way.

What is UI?

User Interface (UI) design is the graphic design of how a computer program looks and works. A 

user interface is the graphical elements used by the user to interact with software. These include buttons, menus, dialogue boxes, windows, etc.

In simple words, A user interface is the graphical design of an application. It contains the buttons users click on and the text they read. It also includes images, sliders, and text entry fields. Anything that appears on the screen is a part of the User Interface. The user interface is the most crucial element of any website or application. So be sure to follow UI design tips to ensure your interface is functional and aesthetically pleasing. As you can’t compromise with UI at any cost, or else it will lead to a loss of customers for your brand. You can’t compromise with UI at any cost, or else it will lead to a loss of customers for your brand.

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UI designers usually take care of the interface. User Interface Designers use colors and styles to make applications and websites look appealing. They also design buttons and other elements of the application. Their work helps users understand how to interact with the application.

UI designers are graphic designers. Their job is to create an appealing user experience by designing the style and layout of the application. They also need to ensure that the application looks cohesive and unified.

Let us take the example of Apple. Apple has used white color and a minimalist approach on its products and websites. Their UI stands out and looks classy as well as appealing.

What is UX?

User Experience is a human-first way of designing products. This means that user experience designers should focus on the needs of users and try to understand what they want before trying to make them happy. The designer must think from the perspective of a user and work accordingly. If the user experience of your application or website is not good, chances are the customers won’t visit it again.

UX design is important because it affects the overall user experience. Smooth and intuitive experiences help users accomplish tasks more easily. Clunky and confusing interfaces make things harder than they need to be. Navigation feels logical when you are using an app, but arbitrary when you’re struggling to use it. Interacting with apps gives people the sense that they are accomplishing tasks efficiently, but if it feels like a struggle then it doesn’t matter how much time you spend using the app.

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The main objective of UX design is to produce simple, fast, engaging, and enjoyable user experiences.

and sound design. The UX of your product should evoke credibility in the user’s mind.

UI/UX Design Process

There are a few steps in the journey of building a great UI UX design for any product.

Product Definition 

The product definition phase is an important step in the process of creating a new product. This phase involves brainstorming ideas about the product, including defining what features should be included in the product. Stakeholders are involved during this phase to help define the product. 

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Research 

Research is an important part of any project. You need to know what people want before you start designing. User research helps you understand how users interact with your app or website. Market research helps you learn about who your target audience is.

Analysis 

You should be sure that you understand what your customers think about your product before starting to design. Otherwise, you might end up designing something that does not meet their needs.

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Design 

Design is the most important step in UI/UX design. This step brings life to the concepts that were collected in the previous three processes. It is time to start working on the final graphics. During this step, the design team will put the final design into action. Sketching, and creating wireframes and prototypes are the parts of designing.

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Testing 

Testing is the phase that determines how well the end-product works. Testers write down what needs improvement and send it back to the respected team. Testers decide if the UI is user-friendly or not, whether is it easy to use, does it help the user or not, etc.