Being competitive in today’s market requires almost every business to have an online presence. Before online presence referred only to having a functional website, however today it is so much more. If you want your business to grow, you need also to have a well-functioning app, and along with the website, it needs to be well responsive and provide a good user experience on every device we use today (pc, laptop, tablet, smartphone). For all of this to work, well, you need a good strategy.
But, if You Are New to the Subject, Below You’ll Find Some Explanations…
The term UI / UX design is quite commonly used in the digital world and most people have no doubt heard it at least once. Yet there are misconceptions when it comes to its meaning.
What Does UI/UX Design Mean?
The abbreviation stands for user interface/user experience and refers to the design of digital products with a user-centered approach.
In other words, it is the creation of a product that will be visually appealing to users and provide an extremely enjoyable user experience.
There is often a (wrong) opinion that such designs are the same discipline, which is not true. These are two separate disciplines that focus on different aspects of the user’s journey on a particular website/application.
However, they both complement each other in many ways and are so closely related that they have largely merged into one profession. Let’s look at the main differences between these two, and then we’ll write briefly about what the design process looks like.
What Are the Differences?
UI design, or interface design, refers to the appearance of a digital product. It focuses on visual elements such as buttons, fonts, color schemes, images, interactive elements, etc.
On the other hand, UX design refers to the user experience when interacting with your site/application. Its focus is to enable users to get to what they are looking for in a smooth and comfortable way.
The difference can be observed in the example of a car. UX would in that case refer to mechanical aspects, e.g. engine power, transmission type, or fuel consumption. UI would refer to aesthetic aspects, such as livery, paint, rims, and seats. Also, you can think of it as home furnishings. A UX designer in that example would be, say, a construction manager, while an interior designer would play the role of a UI designer.
The key task of the UI designer is to deliver an interface that will look nice, but also significantly add to the efficiency planned by the UX designer. In addition, it is important that the interface properly reflects the vision and image of the brand. Therefore, the outcome of the UI designer’s work should be an interface that will be:
- credible business
- made with a hierarchical and logical structure
- easy to navigate
- nice looking
- responsive.
Ultimately, the final product should look good, be functional, and provide users with a fantastic experience when it comes to performance and navigation. You can’t achieve this without high-quality design, and precisely because they complement each other today we are increasingly talking about a role that encompasses the skills of both disciplines.
Knowing all of what is essential, it is time to see what are the strategies you can use to ensure your business keeps expanding.
1. Keeping Things Aligned
What does this mean in practice? Well, here are times when site owners and designers want to create something really unique and exciting, but end up losing track of what would really make a page or app work. Moreover, what would make users satisfied.
Alignment is the answer and the strategy to stick to. Titles, images and paragraphs should be aligned on, and follow a consistent and predictable flow. This can be concluded without much thought, because a page with proper alignment is easy to follow, read, and understand. Everything people look for in a good page or an app. To see projects created by UX agencies to get a better understanding of well-made websites, visit https://uxvibes.medium.com/top-ui-ux-user-experience-design-agencies-97f08a383e3c.
2. Usage of the Font
There are some basic rules you should stick to when choosing a font. First of all, you should choose the type of printing that will represent your brand, page and / or the type of content you offer. Look at it this way. If you work on a site that sells dental services, you probably won’t choose a Gothic font style for content or scheduling. Instead, you will probably want a slightly more subtle feeling, something more formal that will suit the nature of your brand and content.
3. Color Structure
When we talk about mixing and matching colors, the same analogy applies as with the font. While it’s always good to experiment and try exciting combinations, always remember what the main project you’re working on is. If you are in need of a website for a lawyer, you probably would not look for inspiration on children’s websites. Always try to complete the theme, the main idea and the feeling of the website / business / brand.
4. Outsource
Sometimes, especially when you want the job to be performed the best way possible, outsourcing is the best solution. If you do not have enough resources to assign this task to someone in your own team, choose an external partner to handle it. After all, they make money out of being the best in what they do. As for all the reasons why we think it’s a great strategy, and why you should make it your own, consult https://softengi.com/blog/ui-ux-design-for-outsourcing-good-design-is-a-good-busines/.
All of the above is really important for those who will be using your page, or an app, and extremely important if you wish to make the most out of your online presence. After all, ever since the pandemic began, online shopping for all kinds of things has never been practiced more. It is expected that this habit of online demand for goods and services will only be on the rise. So, make smart decisions, and ensure the user experience is positive.
