Think about the last time you used a website or app that looked great but was frustrating to navigate.
Maybe the colors were appealing, the buttons were polished, and the layout looked modern. But you couldn’t find what you needed, the navigation was confusing, or completing a simple task required too many steps.
The interface may have looked good, but the overall experience wasn’t.
That distinction helps explain the difference between user experience (UX) and user interface design (UID).
Although closely connected, these disciplines are not interchangeable. Understanding how they differ, and how they work together, is especially important for professionals considering graduate study in user experience.
What Is User Experience (UX)?
User experience refers to the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product, service, or system.
UX professionals consider how people understand information, navigate systems, complete tasks, and respond to their experiences.
According to the Nielsen Norman Group, user experience encompasses all aspects of a person’s interaction with a company, its services, and its products.
UX professionals may explore questions such as:
- What are users trying to accomplish?
- What information do they need?
- Can they find and understand that information?
- How should a product or service be organized?
- Are interactions intuitive and accessible?
- Where do users encounter confusion or frustration?
- How can the experience be improved?
Addressing these questions involves research, information architecture, interaction design, testing, and evaluation.
UX is not simply about how something looks. It considers how the entire experience works for the people using it.
What Is User Interface Design (UID)?
User interface design focuses on the interfaces through which people interact with digital products and services.
For websites, mobile applications, and software systems, those interfaces may include buttons, menus, forms, navigation elements, icons, and interactive controls.
Interface designers consider how these elements are presented and how they support users as they interact with a system.
For example, an interface designer might consider:
- How should navigation menus be organized and presented?
- How can users recognize which elements are interactive?
- What happens when someone selects a button?
- How should a system communicate errors or confirmations?
- How can interface elements support accessibility and usability?
Visual communication is an important part of interface design, but effective interfaces must also support meaningful, understandable interactions.
UX vs. UI: What’s the Main Difference?
The primary distinction between UX and UI is their scope.
User interface design focuses on the interface and how people interact with it. User experience considers the broader experience surrounding those interactions.
Imagine a university developing a new online application system.
User interface design might focus on the layout of application screens, the appearance and behavior of buttons, and how forms communicate required information.
The broader UX process would also examine whether prospective students understand the application requirements, can locate necessary information, and can complete the process efficiently.
UX professionals might conduct research with prospective students, organize information, design interactions, and evaluate the application process.
Both areas contribute to an effective digital experience, but they address different aspects of the design challenge.
How Does Interaction Design (IxD) Connect UX and UI?
Interaction design focuses on how people engage with products, services, and systems.
It considers the actions users take, how systems respond, and how interactions support task completion.
For example, interaction designers may develop workflows, design navigation patterns, create prototypes, and determine how a system should respond when users make selections or encounter errors.
User interface design is an important component of this work.
At Kent State University, interface design is taught as part of the broader field of Interaction Design (IxD), one of the four specialization areas within the university’s online Master of Science in User Experience.
The program is not a user interface design degree. Instead, it examines interaction design within the larger context of user experience.
This distinction reflects the interconnected nature of UX, where interface decisions are informed by research, information organization, design principles, and evaluation.
Is User Interface Design the Same as Graphic Design?
User interface design and graphic design are closely related but not the same discipline.
Graphic design typically focuses on visual communication, using elements such as typography, color, imagery, and layout to communicate ideas and create effective visual experiences.
These elements are important components of screen-based interfaces for websites, applications, and other digital products.
However, graphic design represents only one element of the broader goals of interface design.
User interface design extends beyond visual communication to consider how people interact with interface elements, navigate information, and complete tasks.
Interaction design places those interfaces within the larger context of how products and services behave, while UX considers the overall experience.
Kent State’s online M.S. in User Experience does not teach graphic design as a standalone discipline. Instead, the program explores the broader research, design, and evaluation processes that contribute to effective user experiences.
What Are the Four Specialization Areas of UX?
Kent State’s online Master of Science in User Experience focuses on four interconnected areas of the profession.
Discovery Research: Understanding users, their needs, behaviors, and experiences to inform design decisions.
Interaction Design: Designing how people interact with products, services, and systems, including user interfaces, workflows, and interaction patterns.
Testing and Evaluation: Examining how effectively products and services support users and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Information Architecture: Organizing, structuring, and managing information so people can find, understand, and use it effectively.
These areas work together throughout the design and development process.
Discovery research helps inform design decisions. Interaction design shapes how people engage with products and services. Testing and evaluation provide evidence about how well those experiences work. Information architecture contributes throughout by supporting the organization and structure of information.
Professionals may develop deeper expertise in one area while collaborating with specialists across the others.
Do UX Professionals Need UI Design Skills?
Understanding interface design can be valuable for UX professionals, particularly those involved in designing digital products and services.
However, not every UX professional specializes in interface design.
Some professionals focus on discovery research, information architecture, interaction design, or testing and evaluation.
Depending on their specialization, UX professionals may pursue roles such as:
- UX Researcher
- Interaction Designer
- UX Designer
- Information Architect
- Usability Analyst
- Product Designer
Job responsibilities vary by organization, and many positions involve collaboration across multiple UX disciplines.
For professionals interested in expanding their expertise, graduate education can provide opportunities to explore the broader field while developing specialized knowledge.
Explore Kent State’s Online Master’s in User Experience
Kent State University’s online Master of Science in User Experience provides graduate education across the broader UX discipline.
The redesigned 30-credit-hour, 100% online program combines foundational coursework with flexible electives, enabling students to develop expertise in areas aligned with their professional interests and career goals.
Rather than focusing exclusively on user interface design, the program emphasizes the interconnected processes involved in researching, designing, and evaluating user experiences.
Whether you’re interested in discovery research, interaction design, testing and evaluation, or information architecture, Kent State offers opportunities to explore the field and develop advanced knowledge.
Ready to take the next step? Explore Kent State’s online M.S. in User Experience to learn more about the curriculum, specialization areas, and opportunities to advance your UX education.
