Everything we use is designed by someone. The clothes you wear, the car you drive, your coffeemaker, and all the websites you visit. The practice of designing for different things goes by various names. However, when it comes to a computer website design, we use the terms UI & UX, meaning User Interface & User Experience. Whether or not this sounds familiar to you, you more than likely encounter it everyday. I’m going to explain both of them quite briefly as it’s a complex and exciting thing that you may just need to take a whole class in to fully understand, but more on that later.
UX – User Experience
The two jobs go hand in hand but are two different things. One relies on the other to function properly. User Experience usually comes first and deals with mechanics of a webiste, how it functions and feels to a user. It is a structure or foundation for the site that should optimize how a person feels about a company. A website with a good UX design should feel smooth and easy to interact with. A good designer takes into account how a user thinks and architects information in a way that is easy to find. On the other hand a website with bad UX is: hard to use, confusing to navigate, and clunky feeling in general. If you’re intrigued, here’s a preview of a cool book all about User Experience by Jesse James Garrett.
UI – User Interface
User Interface design is making the aesthetic elements of that website. UI designers manage everything visual in regard to appearance and how that affects the user’s feel for the site. Meaning colors, theme design, the look of the menus and can include logos, buttons, scrolling and other interactive elements. It’s an important part of the job that can influence a user, usually a customer, and what their opinion is of that brand that’s being represented by the webite. If you’re looking for more info on that check out this full explanation of the UI, UX, and the difference between them by Emil Lamprech.
UX and UI design are specialized trades that can involve marketing, computer science, research, some sociology and analytical skills. It’s knowledge that few have; and those who do are able to apply it to all kinds of situations, and clients.
Why It Matters
Good user experience and design can impact an organization in so many ways. It’s beneficial for the obvious reasons; people spend more time (and maybe money) on your site when it is alluring to see and fun to use. Plus more people While also being beneficial in the long-term, especially for certain feilds such as education. Studies have shown that learning institutions who utilize modern user experience design strategies can better support current student learning styles. A website or application should be a good reflection on a company that makes them stronger. Having a good UX and UI design is important, if not integral, in making a company shine amongst all the competition out there. To increase sales and growth continually is no easy feat, and with these skills it’s quite literally made into a science.
Alright, now it’s later.
“I’m In!” You Say, “Teach Me More!”
Gladly. Your complete guide to UI & UX is right here. SUNY Ulster is holding a class all about this speciallized knowledge. It’ll take place at our Stone Ridge campus for the Fall 2019 semester. It’s an elective for the web development degree program, but anyone who’s qualified with the basics can take it.
