UX and UI - two abbreviations that are often used in connection with websites, but at the same time are among the most confused terms. Although closely related, they each mean something different and have different roles in web design. In this article, we'll explain what exactly UX and UI design mean, what the difference between them is, and why it's important to make sure both disciplines work well on the web.
What is UX design
Shortcut UX comes from the English "User Experience" or user experience. UX design therefore focuses on, how people feel on the site, how easy it is to navigate, how quickly they find the information they are looking for, and whether they are generally comfortable with the site.
The goal of UX design is:
- understand user needs and adjust the structure and content of the website accordingly,
- simplify the journey to your goal - whether it's sending an enquiry, making a purchase, downloading a document or some other conversion,
- minimize obstacles and frustrations that might discourage the visitor.
Examples of UX designer's work:
- creation of Web structures (information architecture),
- Proposal user flow,
- creating wireframes - basic page designs without graphics,
- user research, usability testing, data analysis from tools such as Hotjar or GA4.
UX is not about looks, it's about logic, functionality and meaningfulness.
What is UI design?
UI means "User Interface", i.e. user interface. While UX solves, like the web works, AI deals with the fact that, what it looks like. The task of UI design is to translate the structure and content of a website into a visual form that is pleasant, clear, modern and consistent with the brand.
The goal of UI design is:
- create a visual environment that is clear and aesthetically pleasing,
- work with colours, typography, icons, animations and other interface elements,
- ensure that the site is accessible and easy to use on all devices.
Examples of UI designer's work:
- Proposal visual style of the website (typography, colours, components),
- creation of graphic prototypes pages (often in Figma),
- defining style of buttons, forms, headers, navigation etc.
So AI design is about that, how the website affects the user at first glancebut also how it behaves during interaction (hover effects, transitions, responsiveness...).
UX and UI are closely related
Although UX and UI design do different things, don't make sense on their own without the other. A great look (UI) doesn't help if the site is unrecognizable (bad UX). And vice versa - the cleverest structure won't convince if it looks outdated, inconsistent or unprofessional.
Ideally, together UX and UI designers work closely together - UX design forms the foundation and UI design builds on it. Both approaches can iteratively evolve based on feedback from the client and user usability testing.
Summary of the main differences between UX and UI design
| UX design | UI design |
|---|---|
| User Experience | User Interface |
| It focuses on functionality, logic, structure | It focuses on appearance, visual style |
| Layout of elements, user paths, wireframes | Colours, typography, components, prototypes |
| It solves, how the website works and feels when used | It solves, how the website looks and interacts with it |
| Key to conversion rate and usability | Key to brand credibility and aesthetics |
Why are UX and UI important in web design?
If you're having a new website designed, it's good to know that:
- UX design precedes graphics - it's not effective to start with "what it might look like" when you don't know what's actually going to be there and why,
- AI is more than just a pretty look - Professional AI addresses legibility, contrast, consistency, accessibility,
- quality UX and UI significantly increase conversions - a clear and trustworthy website increases the likelihood that the visitor will take the desired action.
At Apadore we build websites that not only look goodbut above all they work - business and user. That's why UX and UI is an integral part of every project.
