UX/UI Design Beginner Guide: How to Make an App That Users Will Love

The Internet of the early 2000s is a perfect illustration of why we should love modern UX design. Remember those fancy animations, sidebars overflowing with buttons, and GIFs? That’s what the Internet would still look like if UX design had never evolved to its current state. 

In this article, we’ll explore what UI UX services are. We’ll also talk about how to choose a UI UX design agency.

Is There a Difference Between UI and UX?

User interface and user experience design are often mentioned together. However, they are distinct concepts.

 

Feature	UX Design	UI Design
Focus	Entire interaction	Interface: visual elements
Goal	Create a seamless and enjoyable journey	Make the interface appealing and easy to use
Skills	User research, information architecture, interaction design	Visual design, typography, color theory
Applicability	Applies to all products and services	Applies to digital products only
Example	Designing a clear path to purchase on an e-commerce website	Choosing the fonts, buttons, and color scheme

What Do UX Designers Do?

UX designers focus on the user’s perspective within the design:

Research. UX designers analyze the users’ needs and behaviors. They collect data from user interviews and usability testing.

Design. Once they have the data, they start sketching out ideas. These concepts are called prototypes. Usually, they come in the form of low-fidelity wireframes or high-fidelity mockups.

Testing and iteration. The prototypes are then tested with real users. This feedback loop helps UX designers improve the concepts.

Collaboration. UX designers collaborate closely with UI designers and developers throughout the design process.

UX Design for Website vs. Mobile

UX designers work on many projects. Most often, they work with desktop and mobile versions of websites. Let’s see a detailed breakdown of key principles:

Feature	Website UX Design	Mobile UX Design
Screen size and interaction	Works with larger screens and multiple input methods (mouse, keyboard)	Limited screen size, designed for interaction through touchscreens
Content prioritization	Can display more information at once	Needs to prioritize content for small screens and focus on essential elements
Navigation	More complex navigation menus with dropdowns and subcategories can be used.	Simpler navigation with fewer options needs to be easily accessible with one hand
Information density	Can handle denser information presentation with text and graphics	Needs to be clear and concise due to the limited space. Visual hierarchy is prioritized
Loading speed	Less critical as users are likely using Wi-Fi	Absolutely crucial. Pages need to load fast for an optimal experience on cellular data
Accessibility	Can leverage a wider range of accessibility features, like screen readers	Needs to be optimized for touch screens

What Do UI Designers Do?

UI designers design the screens and interfaces on websites, mobile apps, and software. They take the UX designer’s blueprint and turn it into a functional interface.

Understanding the brief. They start by getting a clear understanding of the project goals and target audience.

Design and iteration. Then UI designers create mockups that translate into an interactive interface. This involves choosing fonts, layouts, and other UI elements.

Creating a style guide. A UI design agency establishes a design system or style guide to ensure consistency across all screens. This means that the color palette and typography should look the same on every screen.

Collaboration. UI designers collaborate closely with the UX team and developers. Thus ensuring a cohesive final product.

Website vs. Mobile UI Design

While both website and mobile UI design aim to create visually appealing interfaces, there are key considerations to optimize the experience for each platform.

Focus on User Interaction

Website UI. Websites offer more flexibility in layout due to larger screens. You can utilize grids, white space, and various UI elements like buttons, text boxes, and dropdowns. 

Mobile UI. Mobile interfaces prioritize a minimalist approach due to limited screen space. Focus on clear icons, intuitive touch targets, and a simplified layout for one-handed navigation.

Visual Design Considerations

Website UI. Websites can leverage a wider range of visual elements, like high-resolution images, complex color schemes, and various fonts. 

Mobile UI. Mobile UI design needs to be optimized for readability on smaller screens. Use larger fonts, simpler color palettes, and consider compression for images.

How to Choose a UX/UI Design Company That Delivers

Your choice of a UI/UX agency affects the final look of a digital product. Let’s look at the key criteria to consider.

Criteria	Description	Questions to Ask
Experience	The agency’s experience in UI UX services and their expertise in your industry	How long have you been present in the market? Can you provide examples of projects from our industry?
Portfolio	The quality and diversity of the agency’s past work	Can you show us your portfolio? Are there case studies available?
Expertise	The skillset and expertise of the design team	What specific skills do your team members have? Do you have specialists in UX research, UI design, etc.?
Client reviews	Feedback from previous clients regarding their satisfaction and experience	Can you provide references? What do your clients say about working with you?
Process	The agency’s design process, workflow, and methodology	Can you explain your design process? How do you handle revisions and feedback?
Communication	How well the agency communicates and collaborates with clients	How will we communicate during the project? Who will be our main point of contact?
Cost	The agency’s pricing and how it fits your budget	Tell us about your pricing model. Are there any hidden costs?
Timeline	The ability to deliver projects within your desired timeframe	What is your typical project timeline? Can you meet our deadlines?
Post-Launch Support	The availability of support and maintenance after the project is completed	How do you provide post-launch support? Is there an additional cost for this service?

The Bottom Line

There’s certainly a reason why businesses contact reliable UI/UX design agencies to create a good design. 

Let’s take a look at the benefits of partnering with a UI UX design studio:

• A well-designed interface keeps users engaged. That results in more time spent with your digital product.
• A good UX design can save money by reducing customer support needs.
• A beautiful and intuitive user interface design contributes to a positive brand image.

Prioritize UI UX service design to create products that really make money for your business!