What is UI/UX, and Why Does it Matter?
First of all, you need to know what the acronyms for UI/UX stand for. UI stands for the User Interface design of a website, and UX stands for the User Experience design of the site. Both these elements are essential components for providing a satisfying user experience to anyone visiting and using a website. While UI design focuses more on the look and usability of the website, UX design is more involved with the functionality of the website.
What is User Interface design?
User interfaces are those access points where a computer user interacts with the computing device. To provide the best possible experience, the user interface design must be visually appealing and very efficient. The purpose of UI design is to anticipate the kinds of actions a computer user will need to do, and then provide simple and efficient ways to accomplish these actions. Some UI design elements might include input controls such as checkboxes, radio buttons, text fields, dropdown lists, and more. In addition to input controls, UI is also concerned with navigational tools such as sliders, search fields, and tags. Collectively, all these elements make up the User Interface design.
What is User Experience design?
This general area emphasizes a user’s attitudes and emotions about using a particular product or service. UX developers and designers see products as something more than just objects to be purchased – they see them as objects to be experienced by a consumer. That’s why they incorporate design elements that make the product exciting or appealing to use, on top of providing real value to the consumer. In a nutshell, user experience is all about how a user feels when interacting with a product or system. When UX is related to a computer system, it refers to the system’s design, branding, functionality, and general usability.
Why do these two components really matter?
If your company is investing in a new website or an overhaul of an existing one, UI/UX will be very important to you. When you can provide a really satisfying user experience to anyone visiting your site, some distinct advantages will accrue that might give you a leg up on the competition. First of all, you might benefit by increased customer retention, meaning that a satisfied user will return to your site after having enjoyed the initial visit.
If done correctly, the design of a website should guide the end user through the psychology of the buyer’s journey, placing a call-to-action right at the climax point. All the content on the site should be delivered in a logical order that takes the user up to the point of making that sale. In this way, UI/UX will lead the end user toward the desired result, thereby increasing your conversion rate and boosting your SEO ranking. In a highly competitive business world, it becomes crucial for your site to stand out, and providing the best possible user experience will encourage satisfied visitors to recommend it to friends and relatives – which will be the most effective possible advertising for your business.
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