UI vs UX
UI and UX are always mentioned together, and they are easy to mix up in an exam. The simplest way to keep them apart:
UI is what the user sees. UX is how the whole thing feels to use.
A screen can look beautiful (good UI) and still be frustrating to use (bad UX). It can also be plain-looking yet effortless. They are two different jobs, done by two different people, judged by two different standards.
How to remember it
GOALS
- GoalWhat is it trying to achieve?
- OutputWhat does the designer actually produce?
- Area of focusWhich part of the product does it care about?
- Led byWho does the work?
- SkillsWhat must that person be good at?
UI vs UX
Section titled “UI vs UX”| GOALS | UI — User Interface | UX — User Experience |
|---|---|---|
| G Goal | An attractive, interactive interface | A smooth, satisfying experience |
| O Output | Screens, buttons, icons, layouts | User flows, journey maps, wireframes |
| A Area of focus | Visual design — how it looks | Usability — how it works |
| L Led by | UI Designer | UX Designer |
| S Skills | Typography, colour, layout | User research, usability testing, problem solving |