What’s the Difference Between UI and UX Design?

One of the most common questions I hear in the design world is, “What’s the difference between UI and UX?” If you’re just getting started in design, or if you’re a client trying to understand what you're paying for, the terms can get confusing. I used to mix them up too, and honestly, I think a lot of people still do.

At a basic level, UX (User Experience) is about how something works, and UI (User Interface) is about how it looks. UX is more about structure and function. It's the planning side. When I work on UX, I think about how someone will move through a website or an app. Is it clear where they should click next? Do they feel confident as they go through the process? Does it solve their problem? A lot of this work happens before anything visual is even designed.

UI, on the other hand, is where the visuals come in. This includes color, typography, spacing, layout, icons, and all of the details that make something feel clean and professional. UI is what makes a product visually pleasing and easy to interact with. But that only works if the UX is solid underneath it.

Here’s how I explain it to clients and students: UX is the foundation and layout of a house, and UI is the paint color, furniture, and lighting. You can have a really stylish space, but if the layout makes no sense, people won’t want to stay in it. At the same time, a well-built space with no visual design can feel cold or confusing. Both matter.

In my own work, especially when I take on web or app design projects, I always try to think about both sides. For example, if I’m designing a mobile site for a community nonprofit, I start by thinking about what the user needs to find quickly. Maybe it’s an event calendar or a contact form. Once that journey is mapped out, then I bring in visual style. I make sure the buttons feel clickable, the text is readable, and the layout makes sense on different screen sizes.

Whether I’m working with a small business or a student-run project, I find that good UI and UX design helps build trust. People may not notice when something is designed well, but they will definitely notice when it isn’t.

I think one reason this topic gets brought up so often is because a lot of people assume they only need one or the other. In reality, UI and UX work best when they’re combined. Even if your website looks good, if people can’t figure out how to use it, it won’t help your business. On the flip side, if everything works smoothly but it feels outdated or messy, that can turn people away too.

So if you’re someone looking to get into design or trying to hire a designer, I would recommend getting familiar with both UI and UX. You don’t have to be an expert in everything, but knowing how they connect can help you make better decisions and create better experiences for the people who interact with your work.

Let me know if you want help thinking through the UI or UX of your own project. I’m always happy to offer feedback, especially for nonprofits, small businesses, or students trying to build something meaningful.

Works Cited

Bowie, N. E. (2007). A Kantian Approach to Business Ethics. In A Companion to Business Ethics (pp. 3-16). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470998397.ch1

Freeman, R. Edward, Managing for Stakeholders (January 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1186402 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1186402

  Donaldson, T., & Dunfee, T. W. (2002). Ties that bind in business ethics: Social contracts and why they matter. Journal of Banking & Finance, 26(9), 1853–1865. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4266(02)00195-4