Let’s face it, we’ve all been there… You click on a website and within five seconds, you’re completely lost. The buttons are confusing, the text is hard to read and you can’t find what you came for. So what do you do? You bounce.
That right there is why UX and UI (user experience/user interface) design in web development isn’t just important, but is essential.
Your website is often the first impression your brand makes, and we all know how much first impressions matter. A well-designed UX and UI can be the difference between a user becoming a loyal customer or clicking away to a competitor.
So what exactly is UX and UI design, and why should you, as a business owner, developer or digital creative, care so much about it? Let’s get into it.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UX AND UI?
UX (User Experience): this is all about how a user feels when they’re interacting with your site. Is it easy to navigate? Is it intuitive? Does it help them achieve their goals quickly? Without these, the only thing you might leave your audience feeling is frustrated and annoyed.
UI (User Interface): this is more focused on the look and layout of your site such as the buttons, icons, fonts, colours and visuals that users interact with.
Think of UX as the skeleton and brain of the website while UI is the skin and clothing. Both should work together to bring your website to life in the best way.
WHY THEY BOTH MATTER
- First impressions matter, A LOT.
It takes about 0.05 seconds for users to form an opinion about your website– that’s faster than a blink! Good UI design creates a visually appealing site that instantly grabs attention, while a thoughtful UX ensures that users can find what they need fast.
- User retention and engagement.
Engagement = value.
If your site is confusing or overstimulating, visitors aren’t going stick around. A clean layout, smart navigation and smooth interaction keeps people engaged longer. And remember, the longer they stay, the more likely they are to convert.
- It drives conversions.
UX and UI isn’t just about making things look good, it’s also about nudging users toward the action you want them to take. A well-placed CTA, an easy checkout process and a mobile-friendly interface can catapult your conversion rates.
- It improves SEO.
Things like fast load times, mobile responsiveness and easy navigation are all factors that can improve your search engine rankings because when your design is optimised for humans, it often ends up meaning it’s optimised for search engines too.
Bad UX and UI are probably costing you money…
We’re not being dramatic either- poor website design can cost you traffic, customers and revenue. Take the stats below as proof:
- 88% of users are less likely to return to a website after a bad user experience.
- 70% of online businesses fail because of bad usability.
- 53% of mobile users leave a site that takes more than 3 seconds to load.
HOW TO GET IT RIGHT
So how do you make sure your UX and UI are on point?
Firstly, start with the user in mind and make sure you always design for your audience. What are their goals? Their pain points? Their habits? Create user personas and think like your visitors.
Secondly, don’t overcomplicate things. Clean layouts, plenty of white space and clear typography go a long way with visitors. Remember, clutter is the enemy of clarity.
Thirdly, make navigation a breeze. Your users should be able to find what they’re looking for in seconds. Use logical menu structures, clear labels and breadcrumb navigation if necessary.
Fourthly, optimise for mobile phones! Over half of all web traffic is mobile so if your site doesn’t look good and work well on phones and tablets, you’re going to be in trouble.
Lastly, test everything. Run usability tests and collect feedback so you can find out what works and what doesn’t, and then you can tweak accordingly.
Like everything, this is a reminder that websites are more than just looks. UX and UI design matters so make sure you do it right.
Planning your next website? Take a step back and ask yourself- is this designed with the user in mind? Make sure UX and UI design is a priority, not an afterthought.