Have you ever visited a website that made you want to throw your phone out the window? Was it because of the unappealing look, or was it challenging to navigate? Well, that was due to poor User Experience. UX/UI design is one of the main pillars for successful experiences on web and mobile apps. According to Forrester's study, a good UI can increase conversions by up to 200%, whereas a good UX can improve it by up to 400%. UX/UI design's goal is to create easy-to-use and appealing products. As always, the main focus is meeting users' needs.
There are many questions when you start to explore this field. And it's normal to feel overwhelmed! This post will walk you through UX/UI design basics. Here are also some essential topics that beginners often need clarification on. You also have the main principles you must master to create successful products.
UX/UI is a standardized way of referring to User Experience and User Interface. It refers to the layout of digital products and how users interact with them. A good UX/UI design focuses on providing users with a seamless and intuitive experience. It ensures they can easily navigate and achieve their goals while using the product. Think of it like the design and layout of a store or the arrangement of products on a shelf. It's all about making it easy and enjoyable for people. UX/UI designers strive to create practical, desirable, and accessible products.
User Interface (UI) is the perceptible part of a product, the part with which the user interacts. UI includes menus, images, buttons, and other interactive components. It focuses on creating a logical and aesthetic layout.
User interfaces are interaction points between users and digital products. Let’s take a look at the different types of user interfaces.
GUIs let users interact with systems via the manipulation of data by using visuals.
Command Line Interface is a text-based interface that allows system manipulation through commands. GUIs and CLIs are among the most common formats of user interfaces. However, the following two are becoming increasingly popular:
Voice UI processes a human's natural language and responds to requests and commands. Some examples include the well-known Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Yet, there’s also Microsoft Cortana and Samsung Bixby.
Users use motion and touch-based gestures to interact with products.
UI designers' role is to create appealing and intuitive UIs. They look to integrate UX design principles with UI design best practices. UI designers must understand all aspects of a product's design. Here are some of their duties:
Some of the essential UI Design principles widely accepted by experts include:
Based on the above-mentioned UI Designers’ tasks, here's a list of what you need to start!
User Experience describes users' feelings toward a product. Consider a restaurant's atmosphere, menu, and service: they all provide a unique experience! A product's design, functionality, and ease of use create an exceptional experience. It can be positive or negative. However, everything entails meeting the user's needs and expectations. A good user experience will be easy to navigate, visually appealing, and intuitive. Otherwise, a product with poor UX can be confusing, frustrating, or difficult to use.
Now, let’s discuss the main concepts you need to know about UX design.
In essence, the role of UX designers is to ensure that products meet users' needs. In this manner, products should also achieve business goals. Here are some of the tasks they do daily to accomplish that.
Creating enjoyable and intuitive UX requires a unique combination of skills.
UX and UI design are two disciplines that have an essential role in software development. UX design leans toward the ability to create aesthetic visuals and graphics. On the other hand, UI design focuses on solving users' problems through software. Together, these two can do wonders for digital projects and products! Keep both at the same priority level to stand out.