UX stands for user experience and UI stands for user interface. Although these terms are used interchangeably by many people, and do overlap in many aspects they are, in fact, quite different skill sets.
The user experience discipline deals with the overall human emotional response to using a product, system or service. How does using that app make you feel when interacting with it? Are you empowered or frustrated? Which aspects or the interaction are making you feel this way? What is the intelligent solution to making this app more user-friendly and an overall enjoyable experience?
User interface design is focused specifically on the skill of creating the digital functionality elements of a product, system or service. Where should we place the interactive elements for best user experience? How do we visualize specific interaction in the most intuitive manner possible? Should I use a drop-down menu or autocomplete?
Here are some of the tried and true steps used in creating both great UX and UI:
- Listen to customers needs and visions of the product, system or service. No one knows your business like you do.
- Formulate specific questions that get at the core of the company’s strengths and, perhaps even more importantly, the perceived weaknesses.
- Next, brainstorm. Collaboration where big ideas start to form.
- After that, it’s wireframing and prototyping time, where the general usability is designed.
- Finally, test, test and more testing, preferably in the end user’s hands to find any issues that may effect the user’s experience.
