UI design

What it means

UI design, user interface design, is the design of the visual appearance and controls of a website or app. It covers page layout, colours, typography, icons, buttons, forms and how they behave during interaction, for example on a click or an error.

UI design builds on UX design, which deals with the overall user experience, user needs and the path to completing tasks. While UX answers what the interface should enable and in what order, UI decides how it will look and how it will be operated.

Good UI design is consistent, clear and in line with the company's brand according to its brand guidelines. It must also be accessible to people with disabilities, for example through sufficient colour contrast, legible type and keyboard navigation, as WCAG requires.

How it works in practice

Work usually starts with wireframes, simple layout sketches without colours or detail. Visual mock-ups and interactive prototypes follow, on which the design can be tested with users before any coding.

Many companies build a component library of reusable elements such as buttons, form fields and cards. It keeps the website consistent, speeds up development and allows design changes to be applied to all pages at once.

UI design results should be validated through usability testing and measurement, such as form conversion rates. A beautiful design that users cannot operate delivers less than a simpler but understandable one.

What to watch out for

Accessibility is not just good practice. The Accessibility Act imposes obligations on selected products and services, including e-commerce, so an inaccessible interface can also be a legal risk. Contrast, text size and image descriptions need to be addressed from the start.

Design trends change quickly and can work against usability, for example light grey text on a white background or hidden menus. For a business website, it matters more that users find information quickly and complete their action than that the design looks as modern as possible.