Essentials of UI Design XV: User Interface vs User Experience

The User Interface (UI) is only a subset of the User Experience (UX). Digital products developers tend to focus on aesthetic appeal than on how the user experiences the product. Therefore, this article focuses on leveraging UI to enhance UX.

User Experience (UX) as the Basis of Interaction

The User Experience of a digital product comprises the user’s interaction with it. UX captures the cognitive, emotional, and physical responses of the user during those interactions. The ISO standard buttresses this view by describing UX as a person’s perceptions and responses due to the “use and anticipated use” of a product, system, or service.

User Experience depends on context. It is relative to the user’s device, emotional state, environment, device, and goals. Therefore, good UX anticipates the user’s needs before they become pain points.

How about User Interface (UI)?

Whereas UX defines the journey of the user in using the product, UI makes the road. It includes the tangible components users interact with, such as animations, buttons, color palettes, iconography, input fields, menus, and typography. Just think of all the graphical elements you see on your screen that provide cues, enable interaction, and reinforce brand identity!

However, the UI transcends visual aesthetics. It’s the interface that facilitates interaction flows. It only fulfills its purpose if it’s clear, accessible, and offers tactile feedback. Observing app UIs on UILand reveals that a clearly defined visual hierarchy is essential for a successful UI.

The Interdependence of UX and UI

UX and UI are more complementary than distinct constructions. They need to interact to achieve intuitive interaction. Therefore, a toggle switch must clearly appear so, and a button must communicate affordance. The success of a UI depends on how effortlessly it communicates the intended function.

The user interface of a digital product is a subset of the user experience. While the latter describes the structural flow and logic, UI gives it shape and sensory feedback. The following table gives some idea of how they connect:

Conclusion

On a final note, we recommend that designers do not think that sleek interfaces automatically translate to good UX. In fact, a sleek UI can be a smooth operator, masking poor functionality. But once users experience friction, broken paths, and misleading interactions, they’re more likely to dump your app in favor of an alternative with better UX.