UX/UI Designers Vs. UX/UI Developers: What's the Difference?

By Vaibhav Shah
UX versus UI is something we hear pretty often when talking about web design and app design. But what exactly is the difference between these two terms? What do they mean? And how do UX/UI designers and UX/UI developers relate to each other?

These questions have been asked many times before. Well, it's time to clear things up once and for all.

What is UX (user experience)?

The term "user experience" is commonly used in the context of website design and mobile apps. User experience is how users perceive the interaction between themselves and the product. It is the total of how a user perceives a product's interface.

An excellent example of this would be if you were designing a car. You might want to know what makes a good driving experience, like seat comfort, visibility, safety features, etc. All of those aspects of a car's user experience are directly related to the user's perception of the car.

In short, user experience results from everything a person sees, hears, touches, tastes, smells, and feels while interacting with a product.

What is UI (user interface)?

In contrast, the user interface is the visual representation of the user experience. An example of a user interface would be the buttons, menus, text boxes, and any other visual elements that make up the look and feel of a particular program or website.

Unlike user experience, which focuses on the experience of using a product, user interface refers to the actual physical elements being interacted with.

How do UI and UX gel together?

When thinking about user experience, it's critical to understand that it cannot exist without a user interface. You must consider both concepts when designing a website or app to create a cohesive and effective user experience.

This may seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning, nonetheless. When designing a website or app for your business, you should not just focus on one aspect of the user experience. You should always keep user experience and interface in mind while developing a single project.

You'll notice that sometimes people use the terms UI and UX interchangeably. That's not necessarily wrong, but it's important to remember that they represent different ideas.

The user interface is generally considered a subset of the user experience. User interface tends to refer specifically to the visual elements of a product. So, for example, if you're designing a website, you'd probably say that the user interface is the page layout, navigation bar, font size, colors, images, etc.

On the flip side, user experience includes everything that affects the user's experience while interacting with a product—including aesthetics, simplicity, usability, etc.

Difference between UI/UX designer and UI/UX developer

While UI/UX developers and designers share similar skill sets, each plays a unique role in the digital landscape. UX designers focus on a product's aesthetics, while UX developers are concerned with functionality.

UI/UX developers focus primarily on the look and feel of a website or app. UX developers often work closely with UX designers and have a sound experience in coding languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others. Their primary role is to ensure that the site or app looks great, works flawlessly, and meets the needs of its target audience.

UI/UX designers create user-friendly interfaces for both desktop and mobile applications. They should know how to design and implement a visual layout that works well across different screen sizes.

However, a UI/UX designer's job isn't just to create beautiful interfaces. They ensure those interfaces are intuitive, engaging, and valuable. A good designer should consider how users interact with their product and ensure it's intuitive enough to use effectively.

Do you need a UI/UX developer or a UI/UX designer?

So who should you hire? And when should you hire? That's not always clear-cut. But here are some tips to help you choose between the two.

Hire a UX designer if you need someone who can:

• Combine creativity, strategy, and analytics to create innovative designs.
• Collaborate with developers to create clean, simple, and effective interfaces.
• Create wireframes, mockups, and static and interactive prototypes.
• Work well both independently and with a team; communicate effectively.
• Willing to learn and use new tools/technologies.

Hire a UX developer if you need someone who:

• Knows how to program and can bring ideas and designs into reality.
• Pays great attention to detail.
• Can evaluate product or website's usability.
• Can improve people's experiences with a particular product or service.

Tips to hiring a UI/UX designer or developer

When hiring a UX/UI designer or developer, you need to understand their role in the project. What does a UI/UX designer do? How about a UI UX developer? Here are some tips you can follow:

1. Understand the skill set

This is where things get tricky. A good user interface designer should know about the business domain and how people interact with products. A good UI designer should strongly understand the product concept and its purpose. In addition, they should know what users expect from the product.

Inquire if they have worked on similar projects. Ask them to share examples of projects they've worked on. Does the UI/UX designer or developer specialize in certain types of websites? Mobile apps? Games? Startups? Whatever they're best at, make sure it aligns with what you're looking for.

2. Interview candidates

After you've narrowed down potential candidates, reach out to them individually to set up interviews. Be specific about what you want to learn from each candidate. Are you looking for someone who specializes in design? Or someone who specializes in coding?

3. Look at their social profiles

Check out their Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts. Does their profile reflect the type of work they've done in the past? Can you find any links to their previous work online? If they haven't posted much about their work history, it could mean they aren't comfortable sharing it or are still working on getting started.

4. Get references

If you decide to go ahead and hire someone, make sure you give them some time to prove themselves. Have them complete a small project for you first. Once you're satisfied with their work, ask them for references. Reach out to these people and ask if they'd recommend the candidate. The last thing you want is to hire someone and then realize they're terrible after they've already been paid.

5. Consider freelance workers

Freelance workers are popular in today's digital world. Not only are they able to work remotely, but they often charge lower rates than full-time employees. Before hiring, ensure you understand precisely what kind of work they'll do. Will they be designing wireframes? Writing code? Testing prototypes? These are all different roles that require unique skill sets and knowledge. Make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into.

6. Set expectations

Finally, communicate clearly with your developer or designer about what you expect from them. Don't say, "I'm going to pay you $50 per hour and expect you to finish my project by tomorrow." Instead, say, "I'm excited to work with you and know you're capable of delivering quality work. We both know we will have to work together to achieve our goals. I'm willing to invest in training and mentorship for you to ensure you succeed."

Consider hiring a web-development company

More often than not, businesses prefer outsourcing their web design/development needs to a company or agency. Since there are tons of web development companies out there, finding one that best fits your needs and goals can be quite a task. Here are some tips you can follow:

1. Ask how much time they need to complete the project

Getting a rough estimate of how long the project will take is always good. You want to ensure that the developer will give you enough time to finish everything before the deadline.

2. Look at their portfolio

Check out their previous work. See how professional it looks and whether they have worked on similar projects.

3. Research and don't forget to read reviews

The best way to find a reliable developer is to read the reviews and comments from previous clients. Also search online for examples of past work,

4. Ask questions

Don't hesitate to ask questions. Developers and UX designers often have different opinions about certain things, so ask lots of questions so you can learn more.

Always keep the user top of mind

Whether you are building a website or an application, you must ensure that your design is intuitive and straightforward. In the end, users should have no problem using your app or website.

FAQs for hiring UI/UX designers and developers

Here we have summarized important questions and answers on the subject.

About the Author

Post by: Vaibhav Shah

Vaibhav Shah is the founder and CEO of Techuz InfoWeb Pvt. Ltd., a leading web development company which delivers web and mobile app solutions using latest technology stack.

Company: Techuz Infoweb Pvt. Ltd.
Website: www.techuz.com
Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn.