As a business owner, you need to stay somewhat current on the latest technologies. Throughout that process, you’re likely to learn about the importance of web and mobile design in marketing your business. The acronyms UI and UX will come up. Here’s what they mean:

  •  UI stands for User Interface, which is how you react and interact to the site design.
  • UX stands for User Experience, which is how you engage with the site.

 UI and UX sound similar, but there is a difference. UI is predicated on what the user expects while on the site. What kind of device do you use? How do you expect to interact with the site on your device? UI must account for these questions. Designers need to understand a user’s intent and perspective, including quality of site navigation and functionality. Good UI indicates how well the designer considered these concerns. Here are a few more common UI factors: 

  • User happiness when on the site
  • Success of product in meeting expectations
  • Clean and readable copy

UX, on the other hand, can be more challenging. Designers need to anticipate how the visitor is going to react to the elements of a site. UX relies more heavily on market research and audience expectations, trying to meet those audience needs.

 UX and UI must coexist for the development process to occur smoothly. The company you partner with to develop your website must understand how to define the two, and then build a product that meets those expectations.

Have you visited websites on your computer or your mobile device that met your UI and UX expectations? What elements did you like or dislike?

 Hansen Multimedia can assist you in further understanding the value of strategic UI and UX, and how it can be applied to your company’s online brand.