UX vs. UI: What’s the difference?
Functionality vs. Visual Design
UX and UI are constantly misused as interchangeable terms, but they are not the same thing— even though both are equally important and work together to create the best possible product design. User Experience (UX) relates to the interactive side of product design, user research, usability testing, and architecture of the design. UX concentrates on the user journey, experimentation with the process of interaction, the story a product tells, and the objectives you want users to complete. It’s about understanding the way users think and engage with a product and the experience received from their interaction.
User Interface (UI) focuses on the visual design of the product; the layout, brand identity, and the overall aesthetics of the interface. This includes visual elements such as screens, icons, and buttons. There's more to UI design than just pretty elements; a good User Interface's goal is to create a simple and effective way for users to interact with the product and accomplish the user's goals.
How User Experience (UX) works in Travel Website Design
UX is the overall experience that a user has when interacting with a product. In the context of a travel website, UX refers to how easy it is for users to find the information they need, book a trip, and complete their purchase.
A well-designed travel website will have a clear and concise journey map that guides users through the booking process. The website should be easy to navigate, with all of the important information prominently displayed. The colors, fonts, and images should be visually appealing and engaging.
On the other hand, a poorly designed travel website will be difficult to use and navigate. Users may have trouble finding the information they need, or they may be frustrated by the booking process. This can lead to lost sales and a negative customer experience.
How UX and UI are like baking a cake
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are two important aspects of designing any product or service. UX is about the overall experience of using a product, while UI is about the look and feel of the product.
I always thought a good way to explain & understand the difference between UX and UI is to compare it to baking a cake.
UX Design is the like recipe & preparation.
It's the plan for how the cake will be made, including the ingredients, the steps, and the timing. The UX designer is like the baker, who follows the recipe to make sure that the cake is made correctly.
In the context of the cake analogy, the following are some examples of UX:
Choosing the type of cake
Deciding on the number of layers
Measuring and mixing the ingredients
Baking the cake at the right temperature for the right amount of time
UI is like the decoration.
It's the way that the cake looks and feels. The UI designer is like the cake decorator, who chooses the colors, the frosting, and the decorations to make the cake look its best.
And the following are some examples of UI:
Choosing the color of the frosting
Adding sprinkles or other decorations
Arranging the cake on a plate
The UX is important because it ensures that the cake is functional, bakes properly and is structurally sound— ready to decorate & eat. The UI is just as important because it makes the cake look appealing and inviting.
Just like a cake, a product or service with both good UX and UI will be more likely to be used and enjoyed by its users.
Simple tips to avoid a bad user experience on your website.
When properly executed, good UX is invisible. When you have bad UX, you or you’re customers will notice. Focus on the UX first— ease of use and the aesthetics second. Users are more likely to leave your website if they encounter a bad user experience vs. an outdated design. Your website should be intentionally designed around the people interacting with it.
Over 60% of users won’t return to your website if they had a bad user experience.
Poor Readability + Legibility. Text that is too hard to read, whether it’s illegible because of the font, or it’s too big or too small. Check out my blog post about readability here.
Performance; your site’s load speed. It’s proven that your customers aren’t sticking around for your website to load. It may seem crazy, but a majority of people will leave your website if it takes longer than 5 seconds to load.
Use images and videos. Visual content can be a great way to engage users and break up text-heavy pages. Make sure your images and videos are relevant to the content of your website.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet. Make sure your website is responsive so that it can be easily viewed and navigated on mobile devices.