Have you ever experienced difficulty finding a particular section of an app or website?
How frustrating that must have felt…😤
It makes you wonder how some websites and apps just get it right while others leave you stuck, doesn’t it?
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to learn UI UX design and be a part of the team behind those smooth, frustration-free experiences, you’re in the right place.
This blog is a complete package; telling you who to blame for the frustrations you’ve experienced navigating a website or an app and answering the question What is UI UX Design? Why it’s so in demand today, and the step-by-step process to becoming a UI UX designer in 2025.
What is UX UI Design?
Rather than asking what is UI UX design, the better way to get the right answer would be what is UI design? and what is UX design?
Why?
People often confuse these digital skills, thinking they’re the same, but they’re not.
UI design focuses on how things look, while UX design focuses on how things work to give users a smooth experience.
When both come together, they create a visually appealing product that is easy to navigate, offering users a seamless and enjoyable experience.
This collaboration is what truly defines UI/UX design.
What is User Experience (UX) Design?
When people ask what UI UX design is, they are often curious about how both parts (UX and UI) work together.
For now, let’s start with what UX design is about.
User experience (UX) design is the process of creating how a user interacts with a product or service.
Whether it’s a website or an app, UX design is all about making sure that these interactions are easy.
It deals with understanding the user and creating an experience that solves problems, entertains, or provides value to the user’s experience.
Much emphasis is laid on UX design because the design of the user experience directly impacts how well the entire product works in the hands of the user, and generally, influences sales and profit.
UX design considers the entire experience users go through when interacting with a product.
How did they first come across it, was it through an ad or blog?
What is their feeling during and after using the product?
Does the product meet their needs?
These are some of the key questions that UX designers focus on when creating products, and by extension, influence the UI design that will be made.
So, UX design isn’t just about how something looks; it’s about how it works for the user, making it a crucial part of answering what is UI UX design and also an essential heads-up for anyone wondering how to learn UI UX design.
What is User Interface (UI) Design?
User Interface (UI) design describes how a product looks and feels when you interact with it.
It’s like the makeup of a website or app.
While UX focuses on users’ journey and functionality, UI concentrates on the visual elements and how you, the user, interact with them.
The goal of UI design is to ensure that you have a smooth and pleasant experience with every touch, click, or swipe.
UI design covers things like icons, buttons, typography, colour schemes, and the overall layout.
Every single visual detail is made so you can easily navigate a website or app.
Next time you ask, What is UI/UX design? or wonder how to learn it, remember:
UI is key to creating a seamless and enjoyable digital experience, making sure everything works exactly how you want it to.
How To Learn UI UX Design
Starting your journey into UI UX design can seem daunting at first, but with the right approach, it becomes much easier.
If you’re wondering how to learn UI UX design, this guide will walk you through the basic steps to get you started.
1. Learn the Basics of UX Design
To get started, it’s important to learn the fundamentals of UX design. Here you’ll get to know what makes user experiences intuitive and enjoyable.
Go deep on understanding how to cater to user needs, conducting user research, and creating wireframes.
Start by taking beginner courses, read up on UX principles, and practice what you’ve learned.
2. Train Your Eye for Design
Now that you understand the core concepts, the next thing is to develop an eye for design.
How do you do this?
Analyze the websites or apps you enjoy using most.
What works visually, and what doesn’t?
Understanding how to learn UI UX design also means learning how to identify great design elements like color schemes, typography, and layout.
This is a must-have skill if you want to become a successful UI UX designer.
3. Choose the Right Tools
Now that you understand design, it’s time to dive into software.
Forget your homies, tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch are now your best friends.🙂
Through practice, these tools will help you turn your design ideas into real prototypes.
You’ll soon be able to build stunning, functional designs that make an impact.
4. Build a Portfolio
The next step is to start Creaitzing (our fancy way of saying creating 😎).
Begin with small personal projects or redesign existing websites and apps.
A strong portfolio helps to showcase your expertise, so focus on quality and variety.
A well-rounded portfolio will help demonstrate your capabilities and show others how to learn UI UX design by example.
5. Seek Feedback
Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism, embrace them.
When you get feedback from other designers, it will help you refine your designs.
The key to growing is by being open to suggestions and learning from them.
Always seek feedback and use it as an opportunity to enhance your skills.
6. Gain Real-World Experience
The final step is to gain hands-on experience.
Look for internships, freelance work, or volunteer roles to put your skills into practice.
(Join our community to get access to volunteer job roles like these)
This is how you learn UI UX design and get ready for real-world opportunities.
When you gain experience, your confidence will grow, and you’ll be ready to take on bigger projects.
The Key Differences Between UX and UI Design
UX design is all about the journey and functionality.
It deals with the user’s experience with a product or service, making sure everything works smoothly and the user’s problems are solved.
UI design, on the other hand, deals with the look and feel of a product, how it’s laid out, and how the user interacts with it visually.
To put it simply, think of a product like a restaurant. UX design is like the overall dining experience, how easy it is to find a table, how smooth the ordering process is, and how comfortable and enjoyable the meal is.
UI design is the menu design, the table layout, and the decoration, it’s all about how things look and how the customer interacts with them to enhance the overall experience.
When you ask, “What is UI UX design?”, think of UX as the entire journey you go on with a product, from start to finish, while UI focuses on the details that make the experience pleasant and functional.
UI design gives the product its style, and pleasantness, while UX design makes sure the product serves the user’s needs effectively.
Here’s a closer look at the different responsibilities that come with both…
What Does a UX Designer Do?
- Researching Users
UX designers perform research in a bid to understand the people who will use the product.
They conduct interviews with the users and also encourage users to test the product to better understand what users want and how they think.
Their job is to understand what the user is trying to achieve and what makes the process frustrating.
- Creating User Personas and Flows
They also create fictional characters called user personas that represent different types of users.
This helps the designer to know how real users might interact with the product.
Afterwards, they design user flows, which map out the steps users take when using the product.
- Wireframing and Prototyping
UX designers sketch out ideas using wireframes (simple designs showing how the product will work) and prototypes (interactive models to test ideas).
These are tested and perfected, ensuring that the product is intuitive and easy to use.
- Testing and Iteration
After the product is designed, it’s tested with real users to find out what works and what doesn’t.
UX designers use feedback to improve the product. This is done repeatedly until it’s made perfect.
- Collaborating with UI Designers and Developers
UX designers don’t work alone, they coordinate with UI designers to ensure the product looks good and with developers to make sure the design can be built correctly.
They also track how the product performs and adjust based on real data.
What Does a UI Designer Do?
The UI designer turns ideas into something visually engaging and interactive.
UI designers spend their time focusing on:
- Creating visual layouts
They design the overall look of a product, which includes icons, buttons, and images.
- Making the design user-friendly
They ensure that the product is easy for users to interact with, making it as simple as possible for them to navigate.
- Collaborating with developers
Once the design is created, they work hand-in-hand with developers to bring the visual design to life, ensuring that the result is functional on all devices.
- Ensuring brand consistency
UI designers also make sure that the design reflects the brand’s identity, this is done by using consistent color schemes, fonts, and elements across the platform.
Essential Skills for UI and UX Designers
Key Skills for a UX Designer
- UX Research
The heart of UX design is understanding the users.
This includes gathering information, or observing how people use a product.
- Wireframing and Prototyping
Before designing, UX designers create wireframes and prototypes.
These are like basic blueprints that they use to test ideas before the final product.
- Information Architecture
Organizing and structuring information in a way that makes sense to users is a very important skill.
A UX designer ensures that all content is rightfully placed and easy to navigate.
- User Journey Mapping
Understanding and mapping out the steps a user takes when interacting with a product helps UX designers ensure that the experience meets the users’ needs.
Key Skills for a UI Designer
- Visual Design
UI designers must have a good eye for design.
They create layouts, and color schemes, and choose fonts that work well together to make the interface pleasing and easy to understand.
- Interaction Design
This involves making sure that buttons, icons, and other interactive elements work well and respond appropriately when clicked.
UI designers make sure these elements are easy to click, tap, or swipe, and that they respond appropriately.
- Prototyping
Just like UX designers, UI designers also build prototypes.
They create interactive designs that imitate how a user would experience the product, allowing them to test how everything looks and functions.
- Typography and Iconography
A UI designer also chooses the right fonts and icons to make information easy to read and visually interesting.
How Much Do UI/UX Designers Earn?
One of the most exciting aspects of UI UX design is the earning potential.
Salaries for UI and UX designers vary based on factors like experience, location, and industry, but even with that, the pay is a big catch.
Entry-level UX designers in the U.S. earn around $78,000 annually, while junior UI designers average $80,000.
The more experience you gain, the more your earning potential increases.
Mid-level UX designers earn about $93,000, and UI designers earn around the same amount yearly as well.
Senior professionals in both fields can earn well over $117,000.
The demand for skilled designers is constantly increasing, making UI/UX design not only a creative career but also a rewarding one financially.
How Do You Start a Career in UI/UX Design?
There are multiple paths you can take to kickstart your UI UX career.
Whether you’re self-taught, attended a boot camp, or pursued a formal degree, the most important thing is gaining the right skills and creating a solid UI UX design portfolio.
If you’re very disciplined and you have the luxury of time, self-learning might be just the right thing for you. There are many UI UX online tutorials and resources, both paid and free.
Bootcamps and other paid courses offer structured learning with career-focused training in just a few months.
College programs, on the other hand, may be time-consuming and expensive, but they can give you a formal degree and a broader understanding of design.
Each learning method has its pros and cons, however the demand for skilled UI/UX designers is high, so you can rest assured that the learning process is indeed worth the stress and investment.
In Conclusion
We’ve answered the question of how to learn UI UX design and provided you with a detailed guide to starting a career in this exciting field.
With these invaluable tips at your fingertips, the next step is yours to take. So, what will you do?
Here are some great options:
- Join our digital skills community — the largest in Africa — where you’ll stay up-to-date on high-paying UI UX job opportunities from top companies.
(Bonus: Our community members enjoy perks like free resources, mentorship, and workshops.) - Check out some of our other blog content for in-depth articles, beginner-friendly tutorials, and actionable strategies to grow your skills.
- Sign up for our newsletter to get daily tips and tricks delivered straight to your inbox.