UI UX design: What’s the Difference? [2025 Update]
Table of Contents
![UI UX design What’s the Difference [2025 Update]](https://jaro-website.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/2025/03/UI-UX-design-Whats-the-Difference-2025-Update.webp)
- Jaro Education
- 13, March 2025
- 4:00 pm
Do you remember the moment you enjoyed an app or a site that wasn’t too difficult to navigate? Or maybe one that was appealing but unusable? These experiences mainly arise from two main design elements, namely User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). While sometimes interchangeably used in daily conversation, they are different aspects of the design.
UI focuses on the aesthetics of the elements that users interact with in a product: buttons, colours, and layout. It is all about how things are presented and how usable they are. UX has to do with the overarching feeling a user experiences when interfacing with a product, service, or process. It includes how it feels, how intuitive it is, and how truly satisfying the whole journey is from start to finish.
In this article, we’ll discuss how UI and UX design differ from one another, how they define the role in crafting a winning digital product, and how they come together to serve the user experience. If you’re wondering if you should be in design or want to know just how all these apps and websites work, this article is for you!Â
*enozom.com
What is UI Design?
User Interface (UI) design is about crafting the visual aspects of a product or service. When you think of UI, imagine the buttons you click, the text you read, and the images that catch your eye. UI designers are responsible for creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces that feel intuitive and engaging.
Key Features of UI Design
1. Visual Elements
UI design revolves around visual components such as colours, typography, images, and icons. Choosing the right colours can evoke emotions and set the mood for the entire experience. Typography plays a crucial role in readability and can influence how users perceive the brand.
2. Interactivity
UI design includes the elements users interact with, like buttons, sliders, and forms. The goal is to create interactions that are not only functional but also enjoyable. For example, a well-designed button might change colour or animate when clicked, providing instant feedback to the user.
3. Consistency
A consistent interface is essential for usability. UI designers ensure that the look and feel remain uniform across all pages and platforms. Their work helps users to navigate easily and understand how to interact with different components.
4. Responsiveness
Today, users access content on various devices, from smartphones to tablets to desktops. UI design must account for different screen sizes and orientations, ensuring that the interface is responsive and functional across all devices.
5. Navigation
Effective navigation helps users find what they need quickly. UI designers create intuitive menus and pathways that guide users through the interface without confusion.
6. Accessibility
Creating an accessible interface means ensuring that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use the product. This includes considering colour contrast, text size, and how interactive elements are designed.
*careervira.com
What is UX Design?
User Experience (UX) design is about the overall experience users have when interacting with a product or service. It goes beyond the visual aspects to encompass how users feel and their emotional response to the experience. UX designers focus on creating a journey that is seamless, enjoyable, and meets user needs.
Key Features of UX Design
1. User Research
Understanding user needs and behaviors is fundamental to UX design. This process often involves conducting surveys, interviews, and observations to gather insights. By knowing what users want, designers can create a product that truly resonates with them.
2. Usability Testing
UX designers conduct usability tests to identify pain points and areas for improvement. This process involves real users interacting with the product and providing feedback on their experiences.
3. Information Architecture
This aspect of UX design focuses on organising and structuring content effectively. Good information architecture ensures that users can easily navigate the product and find the information they need
4. Wireframing and Prototyping
UX designers often create wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user journey. These simplified representations allow designers to test ideas before full-scale production, saving time and resources.
5. Interaction Design
Interaction design is about creating engaging experiences that feel natural. This involves designing the flow of interactions, ensuring that users can navigate the product intuitively.
6. Accessibility
Similar to UI design, UX design also emphasizes accessibility. UX designers strive to make products usable for people with a wide range of abilities, enhancing the overall experience.
*yujdesigns.com
Difference Between UI and UX Design
Understanding the distinctions between UI and UX design is crucial for anyone looking to excel in the digital design field. Below is a table summarising the key differences across various aspects:
| Aspect | UX Design | UI Design |
|---|---|---|
| Look and Feel | Focuses on the overall experience, aiming to evoke emotions and satisfaction in users. | Concentrates on visual elements to create an appealing aesthetic. |
| Design and Prototyping | The process involves creating wireframes and prototypes to outline user flow and functionality. | Finalise visual designs using mockups and graphics to enhance user engagement. |
| High Level and Details | Emphasises a seamless, meaningful journey by looking at the holistic experience of the user. | The process focuses on individual components and interactions, perfecting details for both aesthetics and functionality. |
| Research and Implementation | The team conducts thorough user research, testing, and strategy development to inform design choices. | The focus is on implementing design choices, which include font selections, colour schemes, and layout decisions. |
| User-Centered and Interface-Centered | The design process prioritises understanding the users' needs, behaviours, and emotional responses throughout. | Centers on creating interfaces that are visually appealing and user-friendly, focusing on the interface itself. |
| Problem-Solving and Visual Appeal | Aims to identify and solve user problems, addressing pain points to enhance the overall experience. | Focuses on crafting visually pleasing designs that attract and engage users. |
What Do UX and UI Designers Do?
UX and UI designers may have diverging work tasks and responsibilities, with both of them being user-centred.
Roles & Responsibilities of a UX Designer
-
- Research: It is research done on the users to understand their needs and behaviours.
- User Journey: Create elaborate journeys for users based on insights from the data.
- Testing: Testing shall be done to know what the usability problems are.
- Wireframes: Create wireframes and prototypes to visualise user flows.
- Collaboration: Work along with product managers and engineers to fine-tune designs.
-
- Visual Design: Create graphic user interface components, such as buttons and icons.
- Mockups: Create visual representations of the product for stakeholder presentation.
- Style Guide: Such that there will be no color clashes in the design
- Feedback: Manage user and partner feedback and present suggestions to iterate further on designs.Â
How Do UX and UI Designers Work Together?
Despite their distinct roles, UI/UX designer jobs​ are to collaborate closely throughout the design process. Here are some ways they work together:
- Design Products: UX designers create wireframes and user journeys, while UI designers build mockups and visual elements.
- Conduct Research: Both conduct research to understand user needs and preferences.
- Present Ideas: They work together to present designs to stakeholders and gather feedback.
- Maintain Documentation: Both ensure that design documentation is clear and accessible, creating a reliable reference for the team.
Which Should You Learn: UX or UI?
Both of these skills, UX and UI, have considerable value in the world of digital design. If you feel like you could create a holistic user experience, you should probably go with UX. If you appreciate beauty in designs and creating something visually engaging, you probably want UI.
If you want to become a versatile designer who can juggle many aspects of design along the way, then it’s worthwhile to learn both. Both of these areas have a high demand for designers, and mastering both opens up various career opportunities.Â
How to Become a UI/UX Designer
Having a UX and UI designer job​ is an exciting journey filled with potential. If you have a passion for blending creativity with practical skills, these positions could be the perfect path for you. Below are some essential steps to guide you on your journey to becoming a successful UI/UX designer.
Learn the Basic Concepts
The first step in your journey is to understand the know-how or the foundation of excellent design. Users are found at the core of what makes an application or a website highly usable. Undertake to know about scaling, color theory, typography, and layout. These foundational elements will serve as the basis for your design skills.
Education and Training
Taking up an online UX design course may introduce designers to their fields. After this, why not join the professional and a possible special effects group of UI/UX-oriented design professionals? Such education is a bedrock of UI/UX design that includes topics such as user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
Experience
With hands-on practice, this knowledge will cement. Undertaking the shipping of personal projects or interning in a place that allows you to implement what you’ve learned will give you much-needed exposure to deep design practice and allow your skills to flourish. Note down each of your processes; the information will come in very handy when creating the portfolio.
Building Your Portfolio
A lively and varied portfolio is key to getting your skills noticed. Make sure to include various projects that will demonstrate your range of abilities in both UI and UX design. Be sure to present your project from idea through execution. Your portfolio will not just showcase your work but also tell the story behind every decision you made.Â
Understanding the Design Tools
Familiarize yourself with popular design tools, such as Adobe, Sketch, and Figma. Each of these tools has distinctive features that cater to different aspects of the design process. You are bound to gain tremendous experience, and hence pay close attention to them as you master them to gain more efficiency in creating attractive designs.
Salaries: UI/UX Designer Overview
Let’s see the estimated UI/UX designer salary​ in India at junior and senior positions. However, these salaries can vary depending upon experience, location, and the skills you have.
| Positions | UI Designer (Avg. Sal PA) | UX Designer (Avg. Sal PA) |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | INR 6,92,00 | INR 730,000 |
| Senior | INR 850,000 and INR 1,050,000 | INR 1,400,000 per year |
Several factors significantly influence UI/UX designer salaries, including:
- Location: Salaries can vary dramatically between cities and regions.
- Experience: As with many professions, more experience generally leads to higher pay.
- Company: The size and industry of the company can also affect salary scales. Senior roles typically command higher salaries due to the expertise and skills required.
How Jaro Education Can Assist You on Your Academic Journey
If you’re eager to delve deeper into the world of design, Jaro Education offers various courses that can help you build your skills in both UI and UX. We are a leading online higher education and upskilling company that provides academic support and career counseling to help students excel in their careers.Â
We are collaborating with India’s top institutions to bring the right course and certification program in management, IT, marketing, and many other fields. Our team of experts is here to guide you every step of the way. So, what are you waiting for? Pave the path of success in designing, and let us help you achieve your goals.Â
With a commitment to building a gap between online education and learners, we are the perfect partner for your academic journey in UI and UX design. Take the first step toward a fulfilling career today!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, both UI and UX design play essential roles in web development, each bringing unique elements to the creation of outstanding digital experiences.Â
Recognizing the differences between UX and UI is crucial for aspiring designers, as these fields, while interconnected, have distinct focuses. Whether you decide to pursue a career in UI or UX design, both areas are in They are in high demand and offer promising growth opportunities in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape. So, go ahead into the vibrant world of UI/UX design, equipped with a clear understanding of these vital roles. Embrace the journey ahead, and you’ll be well-prepared to make a significant impact in the industry!
Frequently Asked Questions
Trending Blogs
