A reason for this gap might be that graphic designers create an aesthetic to attract people, while UX designers focus on the user experience of a product or service by making it easy to use. This requires more technical knowledge than graphic design, because you have to learn how people interact with software and other products to make your designs effective for them, including understanding branding strategies, marketing campaigns, coding languages like HTML or CSS, etc. Graphic designers can develop their skills over time as they continue their education in UX Design, as long as they are willing to spend the time and effort to acquire those new skills.

UX Designer vs. Graphic Designer: Breaking down the Difference

To the dismay of many, UX Design and Graphic Design are inherently different. In recent years, however, companies have been expecting their UX designers to do everything from concept development to finished, polished sketches — which is not how it works.

There are three prominent roles in a design process:

• UX Designer — Does research, finds the needs of users, and tests the solutions.
• Graphic Designer — Works on more general visual elements, including promotional material, logos, and other graphical elements.
• UI Designer — Works on the polished design in the end after the UX designer has done most of his work.

UX Designer Overview

UX designers are responsible for the experience with an application, as the audience interacts with a product.

Photo by Daniel Korpai on Unsplash

In addition to data analysis, they should have logic and reasoning skills. Wireframes serve as one of their many essential design steps that will shape what they produce at every stage along the way — from testing it on your family members to ultimately creating something unique that you can use! As a UX designer, you can play an integral role in the development of new products. Together with designers and developers, you will create innovative designs that are both functional and aesthetic. After your design has been completed, launch it to the world and assess how effective it is to solve problems for end-users or increase conversion rates on eCommerce sites!

There is often the expectation that a UX designer keeps the business in mind throughout the process and, more often, knows how to do the entire UX process.

However, the core responsibilities of a UX designer can be broken down like this:

• User Research
• Sketches
• Wireframes
• Prototyping
• User Testing
• Analysis and Measurement
• Design Refinement

Graphic Designers Overview

Graphic designers are artists who use colors, typography, and imagery to create visual designs. They often work in the advertising industry due to their focus on branding and marketing.

Photo by Aleks Dorohovich on Unsplash

A graphic designer will design visual communication through hand or software like Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, by choosing suggestive or soft color schemes, type fonts, illustrations, etc. Graphic designers are usually the first step in any marketing project, as they create logos and images to help brands stand out.

In addition to marketing, the work of a graphic designer can be witnessed in every area where communication is essential. Graphic designers are the minds behind most everyday materials, including flyers, posters, and business cards.

They also play an essential role in the works of UX designers, as they design the visuals for how an app or website works.

Graphic designer vs. User Interface designer (UI)

UI designers, or a User Interface designer, work closely with the UX designer to create the visual design for the user to move from the point of engagement to some sort of the desired completion.

Photo by Harpal Singh on Unsplash

UI designers also focus on usability and practicality in visual design whenever possible. UI designers are judged not only on how visually appealing their design is, but also on whether it can be navigated smoothly and fits within the branding guidelines of whichever organization commissions them. UI design is sometimes called user interface or UX design, but we need to stop confusing the two terms once and for all. UX designers are responsible for determining how users will use their products, while UI designers are responsible for determining what these products will look like once it’s a finished product.

UX design is the process, while UI designers are accountable for the product’s visual elements and interactive properties.

User experience refers to mapping out the journey, which can be significant work. User interface (UI) is then used to add points of interactivity to enrich this experience.

A graphic designer has more leeway than a UI designer because they create graphics that will be used in print materials, illustrations, or posters. UI designers have more restrictions on graphics, as they are designing interactive screens that will need to lead users through a specific path. UI designers need to work on constricted wireframes, fonts, and colors. UI Designers can also be responsible for wireframing and prototyping their designs, while Graphic Designers create the design feel of a company or project.

I often observe people confuse the role of a UI designer, where they say they are responsible for how users interact with their software, website, or app. I couldn’t disagree more! But it is not uncommon for UX designers to know about interface design (though there are differences in knowledge). It all boils down to roles — if you work together as both UX and UI designers, everyone should do what they do best: creating a brilliant product.

It is always refreshing to encounter UI designers who are willing and able to work with UX designers. I have seen many teams operate independently, which is a shame because both types of designers bring something unique and crucial to both the team and the end-user experience.

source:uxplanet.org