UI Vs UX Design: Differences, Careers & Salaries 2025

Design is present in all things. The phone that people have in hand, the application they used to order food, the website over which this blog is read- someone made certain design choices to create each one of these. But UI vs UX may become confusing terms when mentioned alongside each other. Are they the same, or are they different? Who does what? Why bother?

This guide is your way through that tangled forest called the UI vs UX. Here, we will break it all down into simple human-friendly language, sprinkle in real-world examples, career insights, and even a few beginner-friendly project ideas. Whatever you are – be it a student or professional looking for change, or just one a little curious – you’ll leave with clarity about the difference between UI vs UX and why both matter in the digital world.

What is UI Design?

UI stands for User Interface. Now, think of it like the makeup, the clothes, and the personality you first see in a person when you meet them. It refers to look and feel of a product.

So a UI designer is focused on:

Colors and typography layout.
Buttons, sliders, or icons.
The overall “visual vibe” of an app or website.

Example: That’s it, when you open Spotify and admire its sleek black background with glowing green accents, it’s UI design in action.

What is UX Design?

UX means User Experience. This has to do only with the experience you get when you’re using a product. It is the invisible architecture what makes it possible for everything to hold together.

A UX designer cares about:

How easy it is to use the application.
If people get frustrated or satisfied.
The journey users take from start to finish.

Example: When you search for a song on Spotify and find it quickly without headaches—that smooth flow is UX design.

UI vs UX: Why Mixing Them Up happens

Have you dined in a restaurant?

UI is the table setting, menu design, and the way food is presented.
UX is the service, taste, and how easy it is to get what you ordered.

Both matters. A dish might look Instagram-worthy (UI) but if it tasted terrible (UX), you’d never come back. Alternatively, it might taste great (UX) but if it were served to you in a dirty plate (UI), you’ll be complaining.

Difference Between UI vs UX

The quick view comparison would clear the fog a bit:

Aspect	UI (User Interface)	UX (User Experience)
Focus	Visuals & aesthetics	Functionality & flow
Goal	Make it look good	Make it work well
Tools	Figma, Sketch, Photoshop	Wireframes, Flowcharts, Prototypes
Example	Button design	How many steps to reach checkout

Difference Between UI vs UX with Example

Let’s take the example where designing a food delivery app:

UI: Designing mouth-watering food images, attractive call-to-action buttons, and an appealing color palette.

UX: The number of steps during checkout is not ten but only three. The application opens fast and has a good memory of your orders.

UI makes you say “Wow, this looks cool.”

UX makes you say “Wow, this was so easy.”

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What does a UX Designer Actually do?

UX designers wear the hat of problem solvers. Some of their typical responsibilities include:

Carrying out user research (interviews and surveys).
Building wireframes and prototypes.
Testing with real users to fix issues before launch.
Cooperation with developers regarding UI design.

Their ultimate job: making digital experience smooth and removing frustration.

What Does a UI Designer Actually Do?

A UI designer is an artist for the digital world. What they do daily is:

Choose colors and fonts that are in line with brand personality.
Design buttons, menus, and forms.
Ensure that the interface is consistent across devices.
Providing high-fidelity mockups to developers.

Ultimately: Create interfaces that people love to look at and interact with.

UI vs UX Design: Which Career I Should Take?

If you love art and visual works, then UI might just be for you.

If you’re more of an analytical and inquisitive person with regards to human behavioral capacities, UX might be the better fit.

Keep in mind, though, that most jobs in real life don’t fit in these boxes. Most companies hire “UI/UX Designers,” expecting them to juggle both hats.

UI vs UX Salary: Who Gets Paid More?

Money always makes the conversation spicy, right? Let’s check global averages (salaries change according to country and company):

UI Designer Salary: An annual salary between $55,000 and $85,000.
UX Designer Salary: $65,000-$110,000 per annum.

In general, UX designers earn a little more, for their role has a strategic and research-based role that directly impacts business outcomes.

Real-World Applications UI vs UX

Banking apps with easy transactions secure interfaces
E-commerce websites with smooth checkout processes and beautiful product gallery
Healthcare apps with appointment booking and neat dashboards
EdTech portals, engaging learning modules, and easy navigation.
Beginner Mini Project Ideas (Practice UI vs UX)

UI Project Idea: Recreate the login page of Instagram with your own custom color scheme.

UX Project Idea: Map out the user flow for a food delivery app and wireframe it.

Combined UI/UX: Create a portfolio website for yourself—focus on both looks (UI) and navigation (UX).
Common Mistakes Starting Beginners Made.
Mistaking UI/UX roles.
Building something really good-looking but impossible to use.
Ignoring mobile responsiveness.
Too much animation and color overload.
Skipping user testing.

How to Become a UI/UX Designer?

Here’s the roadmap:

Learn the basics: typography, color theory, design principles.
Master tools: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch.
Learn user psychology and usability testing.
Build a portfolio by working on personal projects.
Enroll in online courses, and get certified.
Apply for internships or freelance gigs.

Thrifty advice: Document the journey; the employers love to see that growth.

Why You Should Know the Difference Between UI vs UX

When building a product, you shouldn’t leave any of the above two sides aside. Think about a bridge: UI would be the paint and UX the structural engineering; without UI and UX both, a bridge would finally fall. Thus, for businesses, it means better user retention, more conversions, and stronger brand loyalty.

UI vs UX Design: Which One Wins the Future?

With AI, AR/VR, and voice assistants taking over the digital realm, the need for top-notch UI and UX designers will not decrease in the future. UX may have a slight edge since user-based design is now considered the lifeblood of modern technology. However, UI will be valuable in its recognition that looks do matter.

Also Read:

PW Skills UI/UX Course – Unlock Your Design Career

Wanting a storming start towards the industry? PW Skills UI/UX Course is designed for beginners and advanced trainees with hands-on training, industry projects, and career support. From wireframing to prototyping to mastering design tools, this course gives you everything to be job-ready. Instead of just learning, carve out your path with design.

UI vs UX FAQs

Is UI easier than UX?

UI is more visual and creative while UX deals with research and strategy; neither one is easier than the other-it depends on your strengths.

Can I become a UI/UX designer without coding?

Yes. Coding is not generally needed for most UI/UX positions. However, it would be beneficial to have some knowledge of coding-in particular HTML and CSS-when it comes to communicating with developers.