As a long-time web designer, countless clients have asked me if UI\/UX design is the same as web design. It’s quite understandable to think that these two are similar, as they both involve creating interfaces for users to interact with. However, there are some distinguishing differences between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Web design and UX design are quite different, and most specialists focus on one or the other. What sets these two specialized disciplines apart, and how do they interrelate? I plan to explore these matters in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s start with the basics of my forte, web design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve encountered countless web design definitions, but the one I like most is “the process of creating websites.” This broad definition encompasses all aspects involved in website creation, from planning and conceptualization to design and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the word suggests, web design is specialized to websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Web design determines a website’s visual and usable aspects, including its layout, color scheme, typography, and overall design elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their task entails creating an aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly website that meets your clients’ needs and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Page hierarchy is also a crucial web design aspect affecting user experience. It refers to the organization of pages on a website, and it should be intuitive and logical for users to find what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your web designer figures out your content structure and page hierarchy. They work alongside developers to create an interactive and responsive website so users can easily navigate and engage with its content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a detailed take on a web designer vs. a web developer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Web design is more than just creative thinking. It’s also about utilizing the right tools to bring your ideas to life and cater to clients’ needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some essential tools that web designers use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from using these tools, web designers should also have multiple other skills to excel in their field. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find a more detailed discussion in “Hiring a Web Designer.”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n UX design stands for User Experience design. It entails designing products or services with the user in mind, aiming to enhance their satisfaction and overall usability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UX design goes beyond websites and can apply to any product or service that involves human interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of UX Design in application include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In UX design, the main focus lies in understanding users’ needs and expectations to create intuitive and enjoyable experiences for them. It involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collect and organize information relevant to your target audience, including their consumer behavior and pain points. Use surveys and interviews to create user personas that represent your ideal customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This research helps you understand what features and solutions to integrate into your design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prototyping empowers UX designers to devise a working model from their design to test its usability and functionality before launching the final product. It can be done using prototyping software or by creating a basic version of the website’s interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, an oven company might create a 3D model of their new product to test its functionality and user-friendliness before mass-producing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision are popular wireframing and prototyping software used to create interactive prototypes of digital products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing is essential in UX design. It allows designers to collect feedback from real users and make adjustments based on their reactions. Do it via usability tests, A\/B testing, or analyzing metrics such as click-through rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From distributing samples of a new kitchen appliance and collecting user feedback to conducting online surveys on different website layouts, testing helps designers refine their designs for better user experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, user testing platforms like UserTesting.com and UsabilityHub allow designers to conduct remote usability tests with real users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UX design is an iterative process as UX designers constantly tweak designs based on tests and user feedback. Products and services undergo multiple iterations until they meet the desired usability level and deliver a pleasant user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of iteration is when an e-wallet app always updates its interface based on user feedback, simplifying the navigation so users can find items easily and complete transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the commonly used tools in UX design include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I stated that these two disciplines interlinked and elaborated on UX design. Let’s now discuss UI design, which stands for user interface design, and then put it in the web design context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UI abbreviates the term user interface<\/strong>; the part of a website, app, or digital product that users interact with. It includes elements like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n UI design aims to produce visually appealing, intuitive, consistent layouts that smoothly guide users through a digital product. Accessibility and device responsiveness are also essential considerations in UI design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UI needed for web design must fuse marketing, design, and web development skills. Market intelligence is essential to creating interfaces that meet customer needs and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Websites are different from apps or other digital products. On websites, the user interface is used to attract customers and generate leads. The interface should enable visitors to navigate easily, find information quickly, and take action without confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a marketer, I understand that websites are platforms for lead generation. For this reason, UI design must be optimized for conversions and include elements like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s often confusion between UI\/UX design and web design because they share some similarities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UI\/UX design aims to improve the general user experience and includes elements like research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. To ensure a product effectively meets its target audience’s needs , it also considers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast, web design creates a visual interface that users interact with on websites. While it still considers usability and accessibility, its primary goal is to attract visitors and convert them into customers or leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that user experience is a huge part of web design? The key aspects of user experience for websites are referred to as Core-Web Vitals by Google. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s more on why user experience matters in web design<\/a> and what makes a website user-friendly.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n UI affects user experience by focusing on the design of the interface, including elements like layouts, colors, and typography. These aspects can greatly impact user engagement and conversion rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, a good user experience is essential for successful web design. A well-designed website that considers UX principles will increase visitor engagement and boost conversion rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things have changed drastically, and every business needs to establish a strong online presence. Your web design can impress or chase off your target audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors are more likely to leave and find an alternative if a website is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web design is crucial in establishing credibility and trust with potential customers. A professional-looking website conveys that the business is legitimate and cares about its online presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While UI\/UX and web design may have distinct focuses, they work together to create a compelling and successful digital product. Businesses need to invest in both aspects and I would love to talk to you about how I can help you with yours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a long-time web designer, countless clients have asked me if UI\/UX design is the same as web design. It’s quite understandable to think that these two are similar, as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2873","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-website-design"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2875,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873\/revisions\/2875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jarodthornton.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Tools and Skills Needed for Web Design<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What Is UX Design?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Researching<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Prototyping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Testing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Iterating<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tools Commonly Used in UX Design<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What Is UI Design in Web Design?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Top Web Design UI Hacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Misconceptions: Is UI\/UX the Same as Web Design?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Web Design, UI, and UX Work Together<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why Good Web Design Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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