In any business creating services or products for customers, the terms user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are often used interchangeably. Yet, the terms have different meanings.
People have written numerous posts describing the difference between the two terms, but sometimes it’s a lot easier to understand the difference with a simple graphic.
My user experience colleague Jennifer Aldrich, who posts regularly at User Experience Rocks, made it a lot easier to understand the difference with her sketch for her daughter.
The hand-drawn sketch shows:
- a stick-figure person (user)
- a bicycle (product) highlighting the handlebars, seat, and pedals, and
- the absolute delight the person experiences when riding the bicycle (user experience)
I love the sketch. It’s simple and easy to understand.
Next time a colleague, team member, or client asks you to explain the difference between UX and UI, share the sketch with them.
Via What’s the difference between UX and UI? | User Experience Rocks.
