We often get asked the question: What are UI and UX? Are they the same? Are they connected, and if so, how? Let us provide a simple narrative.

UI stands for User Interface, while UX stands for User Experience. User Interface is all about how a user interacts with a product, and User Experience focuses on how that interaction makes them feel.

UI and UX are intertwined and cannot be separated. UI enables UX. Without UI, there’s no way to experience a product. There’s a common misconception that UI designers work solely on the interface, while UX designers focus only on the experience. In reality, both work on the interface itself. Experience is invisible, like an emotion. Unless there’s input, no experience will surface.

For example, let’s think of a car. Everything we can see and touch in a car is its UI. Without that tangible car, there is no driving experience, right?

When we improve the UI, the UX becomes better. That’s why most UX theories and laws focus on front-end rules like Gestalt principles.

Now, let’s look at what factors of Interface Design define User Experience:

Function + Aesthetics + Affordance = Experience

• Function: This is the user’s goal for the product.
• Aesthetics: This refers to the superficial appeal of the product.
• Affordance: This indicates user touchpoints within a product.

To make this easier to understand, let’s grab a water bottle!

• Function: To drink water
• Aesthetics: Long, black, matte with a silver cap
• Affordance: Gripped, twist-to-open, built-in straw

The collective outcome of all these factors defines the experience of drinking water from the bottle.

In summary, UI and UX work hand in hand to create a seamless experience, and understanding their relationship is key to designing effective products.

— A Thought from a Mahesh Ravi Sir