Have you heard of the term UX/UI design before? IX/UI is one of the hottest terms in technology today, so just what does it mean and how might it impact your own small business?

What is UX/UI design?

Let's begin by determining what the abbreviations stand for and then we can look at the UI UX design process. 

UX refers to 'user experience' and UI refers to 'user interface'.

Firstly lets look at UX design. User experience design is the process of planning the experience a person will have with a product or service. UX design focuses on the individual's interaction of a particular product or service. Ideally you want the product or service to be interesting, accessible, easy and enjoyable to use. As a consumer you want the product or service that gives you a great experience and when it comes to purchasing, you'll look for the one that best suits your needs. 

This is where a UX designer can come in handy for a business. They will look at the user experience of a product/ service and will determine how the experience can be improved and what changes may need to be made. They might make product prototypes and can also support with improving the product/service over time through continuously testing and researching. This will ultimately help to enrichen the user's experience.

Once the UX team have finished their research and have determined how the product or service can most effectively meet the needs of the user, they can then hand the project over to a UI designer. A UI designer will look at how the product is laid out visually. If it's a website they are looking at for example, they will look at how each page functions and how accessible it is to use. They will ensure that the user is able to effectively it which ultimately is what its purpose is for! 

As UI designer will look at the product or service's appearance. Referring back to the website example, this would mean they would look at colour themes, the contrast, fonts, how easily the menu can be accessed, whether the buttons can be effectively used and whether the text is clear and easy to read for example. When you think of your own experiences with a product or service, you'll know just how important it is that it is easy to use, understandable and gives you the results you require from it and this is where the UI designer comes in. They look at the product or service from the user's perspective, looking at ways to improve their experiences of it. 

In conclusion, hiring a UX and UI designer for your business is a great way of ensuring that your customers have the best experience possible when it comes to using your products and services. This way you can ensure you stay one step ahead of the competition, grow your reputation and and have your customers returning time and time again. Your customers will be at the heart of everything you do so it makes sense to give them the best possible experience from your business, products and services. 

*Collaborative post