A User eXperience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are two interdependent terms. While UX focuses on the overall feel of the product, software, UI deals with the interaction between a user and software or application.
A great UX design creates a smooth experience for the users and keeps them hooked to the website, pushing them to explore more. Captivating visuals and engaging content along with the ease of use makes sure that the customer stay longer on the websites and explore more.
UX design is crucial for online businesses to attract new business and retain the existing one. Most of the online businesses now a days have their applications on mobile devices, and it makes it imperative to have a good UX design and a user-friendly interface. This has led to high demand for UX designers’ jobs in the market.
UX design is also an integral part of product development, and the demand for UX designers has been growing. According to LinkedIn the number of UX designers being hired has increased by five times between 2019 and 2020. Glassdoor ranks UX designer 24th in their list of top paying jobs in the US, with a median salary being around $97,000. There has been an increase in the UX designer salaries due to the high demand. Breaking into UI/UX design field is not so easy.
What is UI/UX?
A user interface (UI) is any object that a user interacts with when using or accessing a digital product or
service, such as a laptop, mobile phone, software, website, or video game. Keyboards, mice, touchscreens,
and speakers are familiar UIs. In the earliest days of computers, UI was limited to the command line, and
users could only interact with the computer via programming languages. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
later simplified UI, enabling users to interact with computers by using buttons, menus, and other types of
interfaces.
GUIs opened up computing to everyone, resulting in the demand for interfaces designed with general
users in mind. That’s when user experience (UX) entered the scene. UI and UX were originally focused on computers, software, and peripheral products, but today they extend to mobile and wearable devices,
augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and voice, gesture, and other screenless interfaces.
UI/UX design encompasses everything from websites and mobile apps to smart devices. Because digital
products have become intertwined with our daily lives, UI/UX designs have become increasingly
sophisticated so that user-facing interfaces are simple enough for users of any ability to use them easily
and effectively. As a result, employers ranging from multinational corporations to startups need talented
professionals with UI/UX skills.
What is the difference between UI and UX?
The differences between UI and UX have long been a subject of debate because each has evolved
dramatically. At the most basic level, UI is focused on how a product’s interface looks and functions,
whereas UX is focused on the product’s overall user experience.
Some distinctions can be drawn between UI and UX design:
UI design is focused on:
- What product to make
- The look and feel of the product
- Visual elements
- Responsive and interactive design
UX design is focused on:
- Planning and stakeholder input
- User research and information architecture
- User flow, wireframing, and testing.
What jobs are associated with UI/UX ?
UI and UX are key components in a wide range of jobs. The common roles that rely heavily on UI/UX
knowledge and skills are:
UI designer: These specialized graphic designers focus on minimizing the effort that a user has to
invest in interacting with a device or software, ensuring that the interface is aesthetically pleasing.
UI developer: These software developers create scripts and codes that make products, web pages,
or applications work properly.
User researcher: These researchers survey, observe, and interview potential users of products,
software, or websites. They create personas, evaluations, and reports that provide the results of
usability testing.
Information architect: These professionals develop and organize the structures to present data
and information, incorporating technical and business requirements when creating sitemaps,
wireframes, customer journeys, and other pathways.
UX designer: These specialized graphic designers use research and design skills to create user-friendly products by understanding what end users need.
UX developers: These software developers apply visual design and interactive principles to
software, websites, and other products to ensure a positive, cohesive experience.
UX architects: These specialized professionals develop the structure and flow of a website or app.
Interaction designers, content strategists, project managers, and UX copywriters are other positions that
often require UI/UX skills and collaborative interaction with UI/UX designers, programmers, and information architects.
UI/UX design jobs and salaries
- UX Design Intern with the entry level average salary of $36,011, according to Indeed.
- Junior UX Designer with the salary ranging from $68,250 to $119,138 based on design experience, type of organization, location, etc.
- UX Researcher with the average salary of $100,400 in the US. Based on the experience level the salary can go upto $230,000.
- Interaction Designer with an entry level salary of $103,359, in the US.
- Visual Designer with an average salary of $74,098, going up to $135,000.
- Product Designer with an average salary of $90,414, according to Indeed.
During product development and improvement, UI and UX work together to influence the final product. A good design depends on both a functional, engaging interface as well as an accessible, frictionless user
experience. Ultimately, both UI and UX are necessary to ensure users interact with a user-centric product with ease and enjoyment.
UX Design is an extremely satisfying job where everyday is a challenge to solve problems with creativity using design skills and understanding the human psychology.