We are so used to the phrase “UX/UI designer” that we don’t even realize that it is as absurd as calling someone an “artist-analyst”.

Designers like to present themselves as experts in both of these fields, but in fact you are more likely to meet a unicorn than a good multi-functional designer. Some people’s brains are better at logical tasks, while others are better at images and emotions. That’s why some people are better at UX, while others excel at UI. Even experienced designers don’t always realize the magnitude of the problem, and newcomers to the profession don’t realize it at all. But, as the saying goes, better late than never. The problem exists and must be recognized.

To become a professional, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes they are not obvious to ourselves. I hope this information will help someone better understand themselves and start moving in the right direction.

1. Separate UX from UI in your mind
Why is it important that you do this? There are projects where UX and UI are hard to separate. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re dealing with a merger of two different design fields. These fields depend on different neural activity and different skills. So you have to learn to separate them from the beginning to see what is what. Then you can combine them skillfully. Think of UX and UI as two precious metals, gold and silver. We need to know the properties of each in order to be able to work with them. Only this way can we get the proportions right and create a strong and beautiful alloy.

2. Find Yourself.
UX and UI have become so fused in the public perception that many designers don’t even consider themselves to specialize in either UX or UI. They don’t distinguish between the two in their minds and position themselves accordingly. This may be appealing to your clients, but you have to make a clear choice for your own sake.

If you’re more attracted to UX or UI design, you devote more time and effort to mastering it. It makes sense. The better we do something, the more we want to do it. So a designer who prefers UX will focus on improving their UX skills, while a UI designer will dive into visuals and ignore UX.

That’s how you focus your efforts on what you love to do. Meanwhile, what happens on the “dark side of the moon”? You actively avoid things you’re not so good at, or you lean toward standard solutions. Neither of these options is adequate, because the overall quality of the project will inevitably suffer.

Understanding who you are is crucial to any designer. Knowing your weaknesses gives you an advantage and ultimately makes you stronger. You see what you need to refresh and give it more attention. On the other hand, you can simply tell yourself, “Hey, that’s not really what I want to do,” so you can focus on more specific tasks and stop wasting your (and others’) time.

Self-knowledge is especially relevant for designers who work alone. One of the benefits of working in a team is that it brings together UX and UI specialists. The result is a perfect fusion of the two precious metals. Working alone means learning to compensate for the less-developed part of yourself and improving the missing skills. But even if you work in a team, it’s helpful to be aware of your specialization and know your strengths and weaknesses.

By getting to know yourself better, you will be able to:

• position yourself as a specialist in a particular area of design; delegate some of your work to another team member;
• ask for advice;
• Allocate more time for more complex tasks;
• work on yourself, filling gaps in your knowledge and improving problematic skills.

UX and UI are indeed closely related and require similar skills. But it would be wrong to think that UX is logic and UI is creativity. It’s not so primitive. There are a few basic distinctions to help you distinguish one from the other and figure out which one you prefer.

3. UX designer: the architect of the universe

A typical UX-designer has an analytical mindset. He is able to find, structure and organize the necessary information. But at the same time he has well developed spatial thinking. He visualizes the architecture of the project and draws a sequence of actions performed by the user. He works through each step of the user and creates a corresponding algorithm.

In addition, the UX-designer is well versed in human psychology and can control users’ attention and predict their reactions. This allows him to create the necessary experience of interaction with the user.

A UX designer’s job is not limited to organizing the virtual space. He must also communicate with people, talk and listen to them, understand the needs of the client and users. He must be able to justify his choices and be convincing in defending his design. This is important.

In essence, the UX designer is the architect and writer of the virtual universe in which users find themselves.

4. UI designer: the heart and soul of the universe

The UI designer visualizes the Architect’s plan, breathing life, color, and feeling into it. Without a UI designer, even the most elaborate universe will be boring and lifeless, and users will leave at the first opportunity.

To create a universe that users will love and want to visit again, it’s not enough to be good at design software, understand composition and color theory, or create good designs. The ability to draw is an advantage, but it is not decisive. Creative thinking is a huge advantage, but it’s still not enough.

A true UI designer is one who can both see and show. She knows exactly what, when and how to show. She understands what images will or will not resonate with users. She deliberately engages the viewer’s senses, controlling their gaze and attention. A good UI designer is a more subtle psychologist than even a UX designer.

The ability to empathize with others is crucial for a UI designer. Analytically inclined people are often not very emotional. Thus, on a purely mental level, a UX designer may understand that “here the user has to worry and spill their coffee,” but has no idea how to achieve that. A UI designer, on the other hand, will easily find a way. She will study portraits of users and imagine herself in their shoes. She has enough imagination and emotional intelligence. It’s easier for her to understand what users need, find a common visual language, and help them achieve their goals. She will tell them a touching story, inspire and excite them, and delight their aesthetic sense. UI designers will probably surpass UX specialists in the near future. So far, there is no artificial intelligence that can reliably replace them.

A UI designer must also be communicative, be able to work in a team, defend their vision, and stand up for their work.