UX and UI are often confused, yet they are two complementary but distinct crafts.
UX: the experience
UX design focuses on the journey and the feeling: navigation logic, the sequence of screens, the clarity of each step. It is the invisible structure that makes a product flow.
UI: the interface
UI design (User Interface) deals with appearance: colours, typography, buttons, icons, spacing. It is the visual layer people interact with.
- UX — « Does the journey make sense? »
- UI — « Is the screen clear and pleasant? »
A common metaphor: if a product were a house, UX would be the floor plan (where to put the rooms, how to move around) and UI would be the decoration (colours, materials, finishes). Both are essential and work hand in hand.
Key takeaway: UX shapes the journey, UI dresses the interface. A beautiful UI on top of poor UX is still frustrating.