UI vs UX design: what is the difference?
UX design is how a product works and feels to use; UI design is how it looks. Here is the difference and why both matter for sales.
25 October 2026 · 2 min read · BrightExa Tech
UI vs UX design in one line: UX (user experience) design is about how a website or app works — is it easy to find things and finish a task? UI (user interface) design is about how it looks — colours, fonts, buttons and layout. You need both.
What UX design covers
- Understanding who the users are and what they need
- Planning pages, steps and navigation
- Wireframes — simple sketches of each screen
- Testing with real people and fixing confusing parts
Example: reducing checkout from five steps to two so more people finish buying.
What UI design covers
- Colours, typography and spacing
- Buttons, icons and form styles
- Consistent design across every screen
- A design system so new pages match
Example: making the "Buy now" button clear, readable and easy to tap.
Why both matter for your business
Good UX with poor UI feels untrustworthy. Beautiful UI with poor UX looks great but loses customers. Together they increase enquiries, sales and app ratings. Read why bad UI kills sales.
Signs your website or app needs UX/UI work
- Visitors leave quickly
- People call to ask things the site should answer
- Forms are abandoned halfway
- It looks different on every page
Frequently asked questions
### Do I need a designer before a developer? Ideally yes. Designing screens first is quicker and cheaper than changing code later.
### What tools do designers use? Tools such as Figma for screens and prototypes you can click through.
Want a clearer, better-looking product? See our design service or request a free quote.
Need help with UI/UX Design?
Tell us what you need and get a free quote with a fixed price.
