In discussing your upcoming custom software development project, you may have heard designers or developers casually throw around the terms UX or UI. What do these acronyms mean? Are they important? And how do they affect your business?
To start off, let’s define the acronyms.
UX refers to the User Experience of a product.
UI refers to the User Interface of a product.
Both the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are crucial to how a product, app, or software looks and feels. They work closely together, but the design of each and the role the designers play is very different.
UX Design is analytical and technical.
UX design focuses on improving the usability, ease, and overall experience between the user and the product. The process involves ongoing competitor analysis, wireframing, prototyping, coordination between designers and developers, and constant review based on industry and technology trends. Research, testing, and development are key for UX.
For business owners, it’s important to note that slight changes in usability can be the difference between a happy and an unhappy customer. If a customer has a positive experience with a product based on the speed, functions, or overall helpfulness, not only is that customer likely to become a repeat one, but they’re likely to positively review and tell others about your product as well.
UI Design is similar to graphic design but must work toward a function.
Even if you have the most technically-advanced and state-of-the-art software developed, no one will use it if it’s not attractive. Remember Twitter when it first came out? A programmer’s dream; a designer’s nightmare. To encourage use, not only should your software be visually-pleasing, it should also be responsive, send users down a path, and fit your brand image.
Putting a “pretty face” on top of the UX design is a team of UI designers. As a business owner, UI is important because it relates to your brand image within your specific industry. If your software is customer-facing, it is even more imperative that it matches with the tone and style of your brand image. For example, a serious, modern investment website shouldn’t lead the user into a cartoon-ish, colorful software application to manage their investments.
Having your UX and UI designs work not only together, but in combination with your brand, is a critical step in the software development process. Interested in a UX/UI upgrade on your current software or interested in a new custom software development project? We’d be happy to provide a free, no-pressure consultation!
