.svg)
As DX advances in companies and business settings, UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are essential for the success of services and products. Nowadays, the importance of excellent UX/UI is repeatedly emphasized regardless of industry or field, and it is more important than ever.
Definition of DX (digital transformation) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry:
In response to rapid changes in the business environment, companies are leveraging data and digital technology to transform their products, services, and business models based on the needs of customers and society, while also changing their operations, organizations, processes, and corporate culture. - Transforming the culture and establishing competitive advantage.
Therefore, in this article, we will explain the meaning and differences of the word UX/UI, examples of excellent UX and UI, and the importance in an easy-to-understand manner!
・People who are unclear about the meaning and difference between UX and UI
・People who don't quite understand the importance and necessity of UX and UI
・People who want to know what kind of impact good UX and UI have
・People who want to see actual examples of UXUI
If the above applies to you, please read this!
UX is an abbreviation for User Experience. It refers to the "excellent experiences and experiences" that users can obtain through services and products. UX design becomes a means to an end to provide that experience.
In other words, the emotions that users feel through the flow of their interaction with a service or product (before, during, and after use), the time they gain in the process, and the intangible experiences that they experience can all be considered UX. .
By the way, according to the Nielsen Noriman Group, led by Jacob Nielsen, who is said to be a leading expert on usability, and Donald Norman, who presented the human-centered design approach and made significant contributions to human interfaces and usability.
"User experience" includes all aspects of an end user's interaction with a business, its services, and products.
Has anyone had a similar experience to the man in the photo?
The design (UI) of the cup No matter how attractive the design (UI) of the cup is, this creates an unpleasant experience for the user.
You might hear people saying, "You can drink from between your ears!", but personally, in the situation shown in the photo, I would like to make the user think, "If you drink this way, your ears will sting your eyes, so let's drink from here". I don't think it's good UX to put it away. I think a good UX is an experience that is intuitive to use, allows you to smoothly drink the drink you want, and satisfies your body and mind.
Next, let's explain the meaning of "UI" shown above!
UI is an abbreviation for User Interface, which refers to the point of contact with the user. In other words, all contact surfaces (visual elements) between users and services or products can be considered UI. Here are some easy-to-understand examples of UIs that are common around us.
・When using Instagram ▶︎ Buttons to operate on your phone/app/fonts to view/read, etc.
・When using hand cream ▶︎ Container/lid, etc. containing the cream
・When opening the door ▶︎ Doorknob
・When washing dishes ▶︎ Dishwasher/dishwasher buttons/gloves, etc.
Are you starting to get an idea of what the UI will look like? UI design is a method of designing touch surfaces (as introduced in the specific example above).
To explain what UI design specifically does, in app development we perform information design, prototype creation/visual design, etc. based on design principles. UI exists as one of the elements for building a valuable experience that allows users to recognize/understand a service or product and find it "easy to use/interesting".
Here, for those who understand about UI, I will explain what kind of UI is good and what is bad, using "door" as an example.
A good UI allows users to intuitively determine whether to pull or push the door, depending on the shape of the doorknob (UI), as shown in the photo above. If you look closely at the front door, which we often use in our daily lives, or the entrance door to a store, you will notice that this is the case.
On the other hand, elevators and automatic doors that do not require a person to open should not have handles. If you look at a door (UI) and have to stop and think about whether to push it inwards, pull it back, slide it sideways, or automatically open the door, it is not a good UI (doorknob).
In my journey through the evolving landscape of digital transformation (DX), I've come to realize the critical role of UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) in the success of services and products. But what is UI UX, exactly? This is a question I often pondered as we navigated our company's focus on system development, app development, and digital transformation.
It's become increasingly clear to me, and indeed in the wider industry, that excellent UX/UI is more important than ever, regardless of the field. This realization aligns with the definition of DX provided by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. They describe it as leveraging data and digital technology in response to rapid changes in the business environment. This transformation involves not just products and services but also operations, organizations, processes, and corporate culture, aiming to establish a competitive edge.
So, what is UI UX in this context? From my perspective and experience, UX refers to the overall experience of a person using a product, especially in terms of how easy or pleasing it is to use, while UI is about the specific assets and interfaces users interact with. It's the marriage of these two - UX and UI - that creates a seamless, effective digital experience.
In this article, I aim to demystify the meanings and differences of UX and UI. Drawing from my own experiences and observations, I'll provide examples of outstanding UX and UI, emphasizing their importance in a way that's easy to understand and relatable.
Regarding the difference between UX and UI, UX refers to "the process by which a user solves a problem through a service or product," and UI can be said to be "visual elements such as the visual aspect and appearance of a product."
"Differences in UXUI" People have different opinions on this topic, so I would like to introduce the opinion of a former Google product manager who wrote about the differences in an easy-to-understand manner.
UX focuses on the path a user takes to solve a problem, while UI focuses on the surface appearance and functionality of a product. User interface (UI) is only one part of user experience (UX). I like to use the restaurant analogy. The UI is tables, chairs, plates, glasses, and tableware. UX is everything from food, service, parking, lighting, and music.
Source: UI vs. UX from UserTesting
For those who understand the difference between UX and UI, I would like to add one additional point. That is, "good UI = good UX" does not mean "good UI = good UX". UI is just one element of UX, and one cannot exist without the other.
Let's take Youtube as an example.
The buttons and layout design that appear when you open Youtube are easy to understand and have a beautiful appearance (UI). But what do you do if it takes 5 minutes to load while watching a video? Chances are, if it takes 5 minutes to load, most users won't wait that 5 minutes.
The reason
is that it has been found that the threshold time for humans to react before taking the next action is within 0.4 seconds, and people feel uncomfortable if the system reacts for more than 0.4 seconds (UX) It's from.
Users who feel uncomfortable
It's important, so let me say it again. Good UI design doesn't necessarily mean it provides a good user experience (UX).
For those of you who say, "I understand the difference. So why are UX and UI important?" Let me tell you about the importance of UX and UI design!
Customer satisfaction is essential to business success. The reason is that customers who are satisfied with a service or product are expected to take actions such as "spreading the information about the service/product" or "becoming a repeat customer", which increases the possibility that this will directly lead to profits. It's from.
Designing with UXUI in mind can increase overall customer satisfaction and increase the likelihood that customers will continue to use your service or product.
Here, I will explain the importance of UIUX using an example.
The above is the login/new registration screen for an E-Commerce site. I think this is a simple screen that everyone often sees, but do you know what the problem is?
“The problem was not the layout but the display timing.”
This screen was displayed after the user added an item to the shopping cart and pressed the "purchase" button. This means that users will encounter this screen before entering the required information at checkout.
The design team in charge of this flow believed that it was intended to emphasize convenience for repeat customers, and that new customers would not care much about the hassle of registering when making a purchase.
“However, the results of the user survey were surprising.”
The author of this article conducted a user survey targeting "people who want to purchase products on the site," and discovered some surprising facts. Users were surprisingly reluctant to register. The voices of such users are...
・I just want to buy the product
・I get frustrated because I can't use the email address and password I always use.
・I don't remember if it's a new use or not.
・I suspected it was a persistent sales email.
“There was no benefit for repeat customers.”
In addition, although the form was created with repeaters in mind for their second and subsequent uses, it was discovered that many repeaters were having trouble filling out the form for the following reasons.
・I don't remember the registered email address and password
・I don't remember the email address I registered, so I can't use "Forgot your password?"
- Give up on logging in and register again
“Many users had to reset their passwords and register multiple times.”
An analysis of the site's database revealed that approximately 45% of product buyers had reset their passwords/registered their membership multiple times. Few users completed the purchase after resetting or reregistering, and it seems that about 75% of users left during this process, which is surprising.
“The solution to this problem was very simple.”
The site designer's solution was to remove the registration (login) button and replace it with a "next" button and a simple message. As a result, the number of buyers increased by 45%, and the site's sales increased to 30 billion yen in one year.
It's amazing how just one button can make a difference of 30 billion yen in sales. I introduced an example that clearly shows the importance of UXUI in numbers. What did you think? I hope that the $300 million button example helps you understand the importance of UXUI design from the user's perspective.
Thank you for reading until the end!
In order to develop products and services that are loved and used by more people, both excellent UI and UX are essential. For those who are thinking about creating a service or product in the future, it would be helpful to know about "what UX/UI is" and "the importance of both" mentioned in this article.Products and services that will help you solve problems I think it is possible to create this in society.
I have also written articles focusing on UI design and tracing the history of UIs such as CUI and GUI, so if you are interested, please check them out!
▶︎ Past blog “Thinking about the history of UI design and the future”
If you are reading this article right now, you may be thinking, "I want to develop a product that increases customer satisfaction", "I'm looking for a development company", or "I have an idea, but I don't know where to start". If you are interested, please feel free to contact JIITAK.
If you are interested in what kind of designs are done at JIITAK, please take a look hereOur members who deeply understand the importance of UXUI will carefully support you from the hearing.
.svg)
