Whenever the word UX/UI crops up, many people will associate these acronymns to designers, artists, and even project managers, when in reality, it’s the web developers we’re meant to be keeping in mind. In fact, most UX/UI design today is all about web-first interfaces, with most of the work created by designers and eventually executed by web developers. For this reason, today we’ll be talking about the ways these two components work in synch to create the web products we know and love today.
Proper UX and UI implementation have long been the cornerstones of a successful website for both desktop and mobile device navigation. Whether one is browsing through a site for work-related tasks, or simply playing at a no-deposit online casino, an easily accessible site is imperative. Just ask the Editor-in-Chief and webmaster of NoDepositCasino.guide Claire Mattfield, and she will confirm:
“While many may think such elements are often exclusively related to web design, as someone with hands-on experience in both departments, I can confirm that web development plays an important role in impacting both UX and UI performance.”
UX/UI Design Explained
As you already might be aware, UX refers to user experience, while UI refers to the user interface. When it comes to creating a product that will entice people to actively make use of it, both are crucial for its design. In fact, these two roles are often fulfilled by a single person, which is where the combined term UX/UI design originally came from.
Given the rich and complex world we currently live in, a product’s web interface is usually as important as the real-life user experience, so it makes sense having one person to manage both functions in synch. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to note that not only does UX/UI design play two roles, but there’s also a high degree of collaboration with different software teams going on to decide on what the final product should actually look like.
User Interface (UI) Design
While we understand that the general term here is UX/UI design and not the other way around, the idea is easier to understand if we start with the user interface first. In this case, UI specifically refers to the general look of the design. Here, a UI designer would focus on how all of the individual elements of the interface function and work. The goal here is to create a product that is interactive, user friendly, and attractive overall.
User Experience (UX) Design
On the other hand, UX design doesn’t only deal with the aesthetic part of a product but also with its functionality. For this reason, UX designers are tasked with putting entire products together rather than individual interface elements. Apart from that, the job of a UX designer also entails making sure that all of the UI elements included work together seamlessly, creating an environment that encourages users to return.
Another concept you’ll often hear about in this regard is ‘user journey’ and this refers to the way a user will engage with a product from start to finish in order to create an intelligent system that runs smoothly.
Web Development
Even though most of us make use of the internet every single day, we aren’t always aware of what goes on behind the scenes. Web development refers to jobs related to creating, building, and maintaining browser-run apps and sites, as well as including design, programming, and database management.
In this case, web developers are charged with the task of designing features and functionality of web apps, along with the actual construction of the site which would generally fall under the realm of programming.
Differences Between UX/UI Design and Web Development
While many might assume that the two practices are interchangeable, the truth is that they couldn’t be more different. While UX/UI designers are generally in charge of designing and creating a user experience or journey that’s smart, interactive, and useable, web developers are more focused on implementing this experience into the actual site. In a nutshell, UX/UI will generally focus on bigger-picture questions, while web developers are tasked with creating solutions that will allow the experience to materialize in real life.