{"id":3273,"date":"2017-08-03T11:59:04","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T16:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sisleridm.com\/?p=3273"},"modified":"2017-08-03T11:59:04","modified_gmt":"2017-08-03T16:59:04","slug":"whats-difference-ui-ux-tell-client-ask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sislercreate.com\/Animation\/2017\/08\/03\/whats-difference-ui-ux-tell-client-ask\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Difference Between UI and UX? What to Tell Your Client if They Ask You This"},"content":{"rendered":"

source: \u00a0https:\/\/blogs.adobe.com\/creativecloud\/whats-the-difference-between-ui-and-ux-what-to-tell-your-client-if-they-ask-you-this\/?segment=design&trackingid=MC95SPPL&mv=email<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whether we like it or not, \u201cwhat\u2019s the difference between UI and UX\u201d is a very common question. I would even risk saying that it\u2019s among the very first<\/em> questions people ask when they are\u00a0introduced to the terms \u201cUX\u201d and \u201cUI.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u201cBoth start with the letter U, right? So how different can they be?\u201d<\/em>
\nWell, very.
\nBut let\u2019s dig deeper:
\nRead on to find out what the fundamental difference between UI and UX is, and how to talk with your client if they ask you that\u00a0ever-popular question.<\/p>\n

Defining UX and UI<\/h2>\n

Even though you most likely already know the official meanings of these terms, we should still cover them even if just for the sake of keeping the argument complete.
\nUX design<\/strong> stands for user experience design<\/strong>. In its current form, the term was introduced by Don Norman<\/a> of Nielsen Norman Group in 1990. His original main takeaway was this:<\/p>\n

\u201cUser experience\u201d encompasses all aspects of the end-user\u2019s interaction with the company, its services, and its products.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

UI design<\/strong>, on the other hand, stands for user interface design<\/strong>. There is no such handy and clear definition of it, I\u2019m afraid. Basically, the only consensus we\u2019ve reached here is the\u00a0definition at Wikipedia<\/a>:<\/p>\n

User interface design (UI) is the design of user interfaces for machines and software, such as computers [\u2026] The goal of user interface design is to make the user\u2019s interaction as simple and efficient as possible, in terms of accomplishing user goals.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Okay, \u201cin English, please!\u201d<\/em> right? The above definitions, even though they are quite accurate, don\u2019t do much in terms of helping us understand what the difference between UX and UI truly is. And they\u00a0surely won\u2019t help your client understand either. I mean, sure, you can quote that to your client, but don\u2019t expect them to not give you weird looks if you do so.<\/p>\n

The problem with UX and UI<\/h2>\n

We really shouldn\u2019t be surprised that UX and UI seem very similar in principle. They both come up in basically the same places and conversations. Both are crucial for every web project<\/a>, app design, product design, web service, and loads of other related projects.
\nAdd to that, people tend to use these terms interchangeably, not even trying to distinguish them<\/strong> in any way (and especially in job listings).
\nKind of like peanut butter and jelly. What you want is both, right? Just like UX and UI.
\nThere\u2019s clearly some overlap between the two, but the key question is where that\u00a0overlap happens?
\nUnfortunately, not a black-and-white thing this. Most people have their own definitions of UX vs UI, and it\u2019s impossible to tell anyone that theirs is wrong. Mainly because it isn\u2019t.\u00a0And, personally, I\u2019m kind of annoyed by some designers being offended by the very nature of the question itself. \u201cThose two are impossible to compare!\u201d<\/em> \u2013 they say \u2013 \u201cThey are two completely different things!\u201d<\/em>
\nWell, sorry, but the sole existence and popularity of the question \u2013 \u201cwhat\u2019s the difference between UX and UI?\u201d \u2013 proves that it\u2019s something that\u2019s really on people\u2019s minds. Even worse, it\u2019s us \u2013 the designers \u2013 who have brought this question onto ourselves. We\u2019ve done so by constantly using \u201cUX\u201d and \u201cUI\u201d in the same sentences next to each other. How can we expect our clients not to be confused?
\nBut okay, I\u2019m getting perhaps a bit too worked up. Let\u2019s clear things out:<\/p>\n

The difference between UI and UX in plain English<\/h2>\n

Quoting Wikipedia when talking with a client? Not great. We can do better.
\nThe simplest definition I am able to come up with is this (you be the judge if it\u2019s good enough):<\/p>\n