We explained What is UX design? What is UI design? What is Interaction Design and What is Information Architecture in this article.

Once upon a time, if you said the word “design”, the odds were overwhelmingly likely you were talking about graphic design. But nowadays, the digital world is becoming increasingly more complicated and a lot of new job positions appearing, which lead to confusion for people outside or new to the design industry. Here’s a quick overview on What is UX design? What is UI design? What is Interaction Design and what is Information Architecture in this article to help you understand what they mean.

UI Design (User Interface Design)

“User interface design (UI) or user interface engineering is the design of user interfaces for machines and software, such as computers, home appliances, mobile devices, and other electronic devices, with the focus on maximizing usability and the user experience. The goal of user interface design is to make the user’s interaction as simple and efficient as possible, in terms of accomplishing user goals (user-centered design).”

A good user interface can greatly improve productivity and bring enjoyment to users.

The user interface is the level of communication between user and machines. It can be divided into two levels: feeling and emotion. In short, the user interface design is to achieve an easy-to-use and pleasure user interface for users and user-centered design.

Author and founder of Adaptive Path — a user experience consultancy, Jesse James Garrett, defines interface design as being all about selecting the right interface elements — like text, buttons, text fields, color-coded lists, etc — for the task the user is trying to accomplish and arranging them on the screen in a way that will be readily understood and easily used. The goal is to make the user’s interaction as efficient and simple as possible.

Interface elements include but are not limited to:

Input Controls: buttons, text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, toggles, date field

Navigational Components: breadcrumb, slider, search field, pagination, slider, tags, icons

Informational Components: tooltips, icons, progress bar, notifications, message boxes, modal windows

Containers: accordion

Tools of the trade: Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator, Fireworks, InVision

Prototype Faster, Smarter and Easier with Mockplus

What is the role of UI designer?

1. UI designer needs to deal with the user, interface, and the logical relationship between the user and interface. In short, UI designer should make a pleasure interface and easy-to-use product to meet the user’s needs.

2. UI designer should have a plan for the product style, interaction design, interface structure, and operation process according to the product demands.

3. UI designer is responsible for design the project in an interactive interface, icons, logo, buttons, and other related elements.

4. UI designer can communicate with the developers smoothly, and promote the ultimate realization of interaction design and user interface.

5. UI designer is responsible for the art design of the software interface. He/she can always come up with a new creative idea and make it real.

6. UI designer should optimize the webpage to make the operations more user-friendly.

UX Design (User Experience Design)

As is found on Wikipedia “User experience design (UXD, UED or XD) is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product. User experience design encompasses traditional human–computer interaction (HCI) design, and extends it by addressing all aspects of a product or service as perceived by users.”

UX designer is the person in charge with creating the products “logic” via wireframes and prototypes via software like Axure, JustInMind, Mockplus etc. Communication is one of the critical skills of the UX designers. They also conduct research, competitive analysis at the beginning as well as usability testing and A/B testing after the project has launched. UX designers are primarily concerned with how the product feels. If your website or app is difficult to use, users will probably be frustrated and move on to something else. Get the most professional assistance from punchcut digital design agency. If they have a great experience, they’re more likely to come back and tell their friends how great your app is.

Deliverables: Wireframes, Prototypes, Storyboards, Sitemap, Written specifications.