What exactly is UX Design? – A novel explanation

This is something a lot of people are not very clear about. Mostly people take this term to mean – “Web Designer” or “Visual Designer”, but for both websites and apps.

So, What exactly does a UX designer do?

Here’s a metaphorical, more relatable explanation.

If you’ve ever been to a restaurant and had an amazing experience, then you know how important it is for the atmosphere, food quality and service to come together in perfect harmony. The same goes for Internet Products i.e, softwares and apps – when all the elements of user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design and the Backend (Systems Design) –  work together seamlessly, users have a fantastic time interacting with your product or website.

Think of a UX designer as being like the server/waiter at that great restaurant – they make sure your needs are met from beginning to end. They greet you warmly upon arrival; take note of what kind of meal or drink would be best suited for each guest; provide helpful advice on menu items if asked; check back periodically throughout the meal; offer dessert options after dinner has finished…you get my point! All these tasks ensure that customers feel taken care of during their visit – this is exactly how UX design works too! It takes into account every aspect related to customer interaction with your product: from research & strategy planning through wireframing & prototyping all the way up until launch day testing & beyond.

Meanwhile UI or Visual Design can be compared to decorating that same restaurant, designing the interiors so that there’s a specific ambience created. It adds visual appeal so people want spend more time there enjoying themselves. Similarly, UI designers create visually pleasing designs which help guide users towards completing certain actions within products such as filling out forms or clicking buttons etc., also making sure everything looks uniform across different platforms such as web browsers, mobile phones etc..

The product itself can be compared to the taste and quality of the food served. And it’s a no-brainer how important that is!

However – Have you ever been at a restaurant with great ambience, tasty food, but the server/waiter just takes forever to take your order? Or he/she is just so difficult to interact with? This is how using an app without a good UX would feel too. It’s not a great experience. You’d be fine for a while, or during the first visit. But, you wouldn’t want to visit again.

So, at its core, having a great looking app isn’t enough anymore–a good user experience requires both excellent UX AND UI working hand in hand 🤝