UI/UX Designers vs Product Designers: What’s the Difference?

November 25, 2022

There seems to be an argument ongoing about UX design and Product design. Most people believe that the two are different jobs while some believe there is an existing similarity. Which do you believe?

In this article, we will discuss UI/UX design and Product design in detail, illustrating the differences and similarities if there are any. Keep reading!!!

Who is a UI/UX Designer?

The UI/UX designer is primarily concerned with fulfilling the user’s needs. When they design, they have user interaction as their main focus. 

UX stands for User Experience while UI stands for User Interface. A UI/UX designer ensures your experience as a user with a website or application is smooth and meaningful. The UI/UX designer is there to fulfill such needs. UI/UX design has its fingers in areas such as psychology, market research, technology, and design. 

Example of a UI/UX design (source)

Let’s break it down more!!!

Say you’re shopping online and decide to purchase some handbags. In the handbag section, there are over five hundred pictures of available handbags. 

Now, you search for the filter button to select the color and type you want. Remember, a filter narrows your search down to fewer options. 

There is no filter button on the website. After painstakingly, going through as much as you can, you select some and store them in your cart. The next option is opening an account with the website as a new customer. Then, you discover there is so much information to fill in.

What will you do?

I bet you will discard everything and probably search for another site. 

The above scenario is an example of a bad user experience. For any service or product, you come in contact with, a certain level of experience is felt. The UI/UX designer invokes such experience. 

As a UI/UX designer, you are charged with the following roles:

  • Conducting user and market research
  • Creating user personas
  • Determining the architectural information of a product
  • Designing wireframes and workflows
  • Creating prototypes and conducting user testing.
Skills of a UI/UX Designer (source)

Who is a Product Designer?

Product design has been in existence longer than UI/UX design. A product designer is a Jack of many trades. He does UI, UX, project management, and lots of other stuff.

Example of a product design (source)

A product designer is simply a problem solver. It is safe to call them the guardians of the product. They ensure the product is relevant, cost-effective, and functional. Unlike a UI/UX designerUI/UX , a product designer is more concerned with business needs. A product designer is concerned with these areas- functionality, quality, and aesthetic appeal.

Duties of a product designer include.

  • Researching market trends alongside user behavior.
  • Identifying market opportunities, and generation of products based on the report.
  • Creating a strategy
  • Managing and communicating with the design team as regards goals and deadlines.
  • Monitoring the product after its release and then applying customer feedback to products.

Similarities

From the above explanation, it seems as though several similarities exist between a UI/UX Designer and a Product Designer.

When it comes to design, both designers maintain a human-centered approach. Who uses the finished work, the customer right? They both must ensure that what they have is what will please the end user. 

Market research is attached to both jobs and also goes through the same design thinking process. There is also the possibility of using the same tool. 

Differences

While we have the above similarities, there are still striking differences between the two. 

A UI/UX designer has his focus on usability while a Product designer has his focus on cost, business, process, and brand. 

A UI/UX designer may ask the following questions: Is this product easy to use? Is my design user-friendly?

Responsibilities of a UI/UX Designer (source)

A Product designer may ask, is this product necessary in the current economy? Is the design cost effective? 

The Product designer proposes a solution and is referred to as a problem solver. As a product designer, you must possess a wider range of skills than your UI/UX designer mate. 

Responsibilities of a product designer (source)

Conclusion

Having learnt about UX designer and Product design, get your hands on our UI/UX Course and start your journey into tech TODAY. This month, we are also offering a black Friday deal with a whopping 50% discount off our original prices. 

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