UI vs UX: Similarities, Differences, and When to Hire a Hybrid UI/UX Designer

ProfilePicture of Felipe Lebrun
Felipe Lebrun
Senior UI/UX and Product Designer
UI and UX text on iceberg in water
Originally published on Mar 2, 2020Last updated on Mar 1, 2024

Key Takeaways

What comes first UI or UX?

User Experience (UX) design is usually the first step in the design process. UX focuses on the overall user experience and the functionality of a product, while User Interface (UI) design is concerned with the specific visual design and layout of the interface. To put it simply, UX designers handle what the product should do and how it should work, and UI designers create the look of the product and how users will interact with it.

Does UX design require coding?

UX design is mainly a design and research-based role and as such, doesn't require coding knowledge. That said, it can be helpful to have some understanding of coding and web development. It can give designers a better grasp of the technical capabilities of the products they design and enable them to communicate and collaborate more effectively with developers.

Is UI part of UX?

While there is overlap between the two disciplines, UI and UX designers are distinct roles with different responsibilities. UI design relates to the look and feel of a product's interface, while UX design is concerned with the user's overall experience and how it works.

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