User interface (UI) vs. user experience (UX) design
Although they are different fields of design, UI and UX are often used interchangeably or grouped as the single discipline of software UI/UX design. The tendency to combine or conflate the two is largely the result of the emphasis on the user, less so on the skills and practices within each type of design. However, it’s important to understand the distinction between the two in order to create designs that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly. User interface (UI) refers to the look and feel of a software application, while user experience (UX) encompasses how easy or intuitive it is to navigate and use said application. In other words, UI is about how the software looks, while UX is about how it works.
How UI and UX designers collaborate
After the user interface is outlined in the prototype, the UX designer’s next task is to find ways to help guide the UI designer toward making improvements. They will ask questions such as: Is the design easy to use? Does it enable the user to interact and navigate efficiently? Do the user’s objectives stay consistent or change? What changes might generate better flow? With the insights and recommendations the UX designer generates from testing and experimentation, the UI designer can make more informed updates to the interface so that it more accurately reflects the product’s intentions.
UI/UX design vs. product experience(PX)
PX mapping describes the user journey with different stages of the customer lifecycle. PX optimization is a tool that product managers use to improve the user experience by considering the different ways users interact with elements of the product. Unlike UI design, PX optimization is focused on helping users realize value after they sign up and onboard. PX optimization is a lot like UX design, but instead of just focusing on the design, it also takes into account things like conversion rates and customer satisfaction. It’s important to have a good PX optimization strategy in place so that you can improve your chances of making sales and keeping your customers happy.