Difference between UI/UX Design - The Technicalities No One Ever Told You About

The transition of the design to the actual functionality and operability entails the technical aspects of the UX/UI design. Speaking of it, the technical aspects of UX/UI design are key elements for branding, business growth, and user experience. 

In the previous guide, ‘What’s UX/UI Design, ’ we discussed the general and key concepts of user interface and user experience design. 

However, in this technical guide, we aim to elucidate with you about the technical workflows, UX/UI processes, top tools, UX/UI design strategy, UX/UI design optimization, and its role in brand scalability. 

Let’s dig into it.

How to create a user flow diagram? A 5-Step Guide 

As the name suggests, a user flow diagram represents the path taken by the user to complete an action while interacting with a website or an application. UX designers utilize the designer flow diagram to make a holistic interface design and blueprint that make navigation easier for the user. 

To create a user flow diagram, here are the five simple steps that you can follow: 

1. Identify Your Target Audience and Their Goals
2. Universalize the Design Elements 
3. Know the User Entry Points 
4. Map out the Ideal User Path for Easy Navigation
5. Observe and Analyze User actions to Optimize the User Flow

Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Identify Your Target Audience and Their Goals

Make sure you have strong product knowledge for developing a user-friendly user flow. Understanding the target audience entails knowing why a user visits the website and what the user wants to achieve.

On every page, there could be different goals of the users, and this would directly change a user flow. Let’s take an example of two users, one is on the checkout page, and the other is on the products listing page; the user flow of both would be entirely different. In light of that, the designer has to ensure a smooth path to navigate through it easily. 

Once the UX designer has completed it, it’s time to implement the information into design elements.

Universalize the Design Elements

In the user flow for the UX/UI design, the flow chart is designed using some shapes (aka elements). These shapes are standardized for certain actions that a user will take. 

Different shapes, such as rectangles, arrows, ovals, diamonds, etc., represent decision points, entry points, completing a goal, and so on.

With the help of these shapes or universal design elements, UX designers can easily represent the user journey in the user flow. 

Here are some of the common shapes that are used for user flow: 

Know the User Entry Points

You should use the user entry points when a user accesses a website or an application. Knowing the user entry points help in making a user flow would help you with the information required at every path or step. 

The common entry points for a user would be a login page, landing page, pricing page, or homepage. For every entry point, the content will vary as users would require relevant information to complete the path. 

Map out the Ideal User Path for Easy Navigation

For mapping out the ideal user path, you will require the standard design elements to show the navigational points while creating user flow. 

When designing the user flow, you can show the beginning and end points of the process with an oval. The diamond shape will represent the user's decision, whereas arrows will point toward the course of action from one point to another. 

For mapping out the user flow, multiple tools can be used seamlessly. One of the best user flow diagram tools in Figma. 

After mapping out the user flow, the user interface design will be on its way to development. After completing the development phase and launching it for the users, you still need to analyze the user interactions to further reiterate and optimize the flow. 

Observe and Analyze User Actions to Optimize the User Flow

User experience and data can help you understand the effectiveness of the user flow. As user flow helps identify barriers and make paths easier for the users, user actions can help you optimize the user flow in case the users get stuck at some point. 

Therefore, it is essential to observe and analyze the actions. If users leave mid-way and do not achieve the goal, there are chances of complications in the user flow. By observing the actions, you can amend the user flow to make it better than fulfilling the user requirements. 

Free Top Tools and Resources for UI/UX Designers - Oh, we got your attention! 

For any UX/UI designer to kickstart their user interface design and make its blueprints, the essential element is UX/UI design tools. 

Speaking of the tools and resources, here are the best UI/UX Design Tools for 2023 that you can use:

• Maze
• Sketch
• AdobeXD
• Balsamiq 
• Figma
• InVision 
• Axure
• FlowMapp
• Origami Studio
• Proto.io
• Wireframe.cc
• Webflow

Free Tools for Creating UX/UI Designs 

If you have just started your UX/UI designing and looking to practice it for free, here are the free mockup tools to use: 

• Framer 
• Figma 
• Pencil Project
• Moqups
• Wondershare Mockitt
• Mockplus idoc

 

Few Important Concepts in understanding UX/UI Design 

Before you start developing UX/UI design, here are some key technical aspects from the user point of view that will help you in making an intuitive and user-friendly design. 

The Role of User Testing in UI/UX Design 

User testing is the core element in developing an optimized interface and its design as it fetches real-time data from the users. 

Here are the two utmost benefits of usability testing in UX/UI Design: 

• You get to know and explore the target audience, leading to in-depth analysis and understanding of UX/UI design development and optimization. 
• Secondly, it facilitates prototype testing in which you can record the user’s responses and leverage them to reiterate the design of the interface. 

While user testing, different types of UX/UI usability testing can help you determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the design. Here are some of the types of usability testing in UX/UI design: 

1. Unmoderated Testing                    
2. Moderated Testing 
3. Guerilla Testing
4. Lab Usability Testing 
5. Card Sorting 
6. A/B Testing 
7. Eye Tracking 
8. Screen Recording 

Therefore, to understand and develop a design that fulfills the user requirements, the role of user testing is vital. 

The importance of user-centred design in UI/UX 

Developing a user-centered is essential to create an intuitive and user-optimized design. A user-centered design focuses on the user requirements that boost satisfaction and reduce a website's bounce rate. It is more of a proactive approach that can help you stay safe from facing the music of a noisy and unoptimized design. 

Designing for accessibility in UI/UX 

Accessibility in the design entails the concert of inclusivity. To be precise, it must be 'made for all.' 

In UX design, the first step to design for accessibility means to have an empathetic mentality for the users and be able to put in the design. With technological advancements, it has been easier than ever to design and develop smooth user interfaces. 

It is of utmost importance to consider the accessibility issues a user can face. Doing so would benefit every user, irrespective of age and gender, as they would have a smooth flow of information. 

I once read that 'information should be available to all.' The core concept of designing for accessibility in the UX is that the designer needs to understand the audience and the accessibility issues. 

If you are wondering about the types of accessibility issues one can have, here is what you need to know: