Insight
UI/UX Design Differences
In the world of web design, one of a few debates that actually remain unsettled is the difference between UI and UX. While many experts in the field are of the opinion that both the concepts fit together, pinning down a conclusive answer is pretty much impossible.
If you’re new to this field, having a basic and general knowledge of how and when to use these terms is very important. Read on while we explain to you the simple analogy of UI and UX designs and the difference between the terms.
UI as mentioned earlier stands for User Interface. Simply stated UI is the process designers use to build interfaces focusing on looks and aesthetic beauty. It is the space where interactions between man and machines occur.
The ultimate goal of interface design is to design a user interface that makes it easy and enjoyable for the users to interact with the product. In computer or software design, UI primarily focuses on information architecture.
UI mainly comes in four formats. They are:
- Touch UI: Just as we read it from the term, touch user interface or TUI is the user interface based upon the sense of touch. It is very similar to a Graphical user Interface except for the fact that you use your fingers or a stylus to select icons and perform other tasks unlike using mouses and trackpads. This could provide a more intimate interaction particularly to those with visual impairments.
- Voice UI: Voice UI makes spoken human interactions with computers possible. It is in reality a combination of AI technologies. The advantage of VUI over touch UI is that it provides hands-free control over the devices without having to look at the screen.
- AR/VR UI: Leap into AR/VR UI designs and move ahead of the competitors in the race. AR/VR brings a fundamental shift in the user experience. It is to be noted that this technology has not been designed just for gamers but can be utilized in the sales of anything and everything from automobiles to mobile phones.
- 2 D/ 3 D UI: 2 D UI designs provide the user with an interface considering the two aspects of horizontal and vertical dimensions. 3-D UI designs simply add the depth dimension to the 2-D designs. The third dimension allows scope for rotation and multi-perspective visualizations in the interface.
Job opportunities for UI designers
A responsive and engaging interface is a must for any website. And this is exactly where a killer UI design can make an impact. This implies a need for employing highly skilled and creative UI designers in design and development studios. There has been a rising demand for UI designers ever since this point came to the notice of developers.
According to a report published by LinkedIn, UI/UX design is amongst the top five in-demand skills asked by recruiters in the process of hiring. UI designers in India have a big scope for employment. In fact, there has been a considerable rise in the vacancies for UI designers in cities like Bangalore.
Whilst UI design is a very creative role, there is much beyond the designing interface. While hiring a UI designer, employers will look into if you have mastered the following skills:
- Interaction design principles
- Branding, color theory, and typography
- Wireframing and prototyping
- Style guides
- User research and personas
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Key industry tools, including Sketch
UX stands for User Experience. When we say User Experience, we mean how people interact with the digital product. When people use a digital product, as rational users, they actually evaluate the product by considering its value, function, usability, and general impression.
In layman’s language, UX design is the process of creating products that are practical and usable. It is often mistaken for UI design. Although UI is a part of UX, UX designers have to work beyond what a UI designer does.
While UI is mostly concerned with the aesthetic appeal of the digital product, UX designers function behind the visuals, bridging the gap between how the product looks and how it actually works.
Job opportunities for UX designers
There’s never been a better time to pursue UX designing as a career than now. The demand for UX designers is very high in cities like Bangalore. While switching careers may seem daunting, a switch to the UX profession can be way too exciting.
UX designers in India are offered more than UI designers because UX designers are supposed to think critically above and beyond UI designers. While UX designing could earn you a decent amount, proficiency in both UI and UX can fetch you more salary. UX designers are in demand globally also.
A report reveals that 70% of managers increased the headcount of their design team in the past years. Could this be a sign for you?
UX design jobs are a combination of technical skills and workplace skills in their design work. Some of the skills that the recruiters look for in a UX designer are:
- Prototyping, wire framing, user flows, and mockups
- Visual design and design software
- User research and usability testing
- Agile
- Information Architecture
- Collaboration skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Prioritisation and time management
To sum up, UI generally deals with the interactions between users and computers while UX deals with the overall user experience of a digital product. What we have covered here is only the first letter in the alphabet. There’s a lot more to both UI designing and UX designing. We can promise you one thing, it’s worth learning deeper.
On a related note, if you’re looking to hire some best UI/UX designing teams for your business, UPDOT is all set to provide you with the best UI/UX services available in the Indian tech industry. Get in touch with us, and we shall discuss some fine ideas over a cup of tea!
