What is UI/UX design?
UX (user experience) design is the structure behind a product: who the users are, what they are trying to do, and the steps that get them there. Its outputs are user flows, wireframes and prototypes.
UI (user interface) design is the surface people touch: layouts, buttons, typography, colour, spacing and states. Its outputs are high-fidelity mockups and a design system that keeps every screen consistent.
What is web design?
Web design is the craft of designing websites: home pages, landing pages, portfolios and marketing sites. The goal is communication. A visitor should understand what you offer within seconds, trust it, and know what to do next. Web design blends layout, brand, copy hierarchy, imagery, motion and responsiveness.
The key differences
| UI/UX design | Web design | |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Help people complete tasks | Explain, persuade and convert |
| Typical work | Dashboards, web apps, mobile apps | Landing pages, marketing and portfolio sites |
| Key deliverables | Flows, wireframes, prototypes, design systems | Page designs, responsive layouts, a live website |
| Success looks like | Fewer errors, faster tasks, better retention | More enquiries, sign-ups and sales |
Which one do you need?
- You are launching a business, product or portfolio and need an online presence: start with web design.
- You are building software such as a SaaS tool, dashboard or mobile app: start with UI/UX design.
- You run a SaaS company: you need both. The marketing site wins the customer; the product interface keeps them.
Where the two overlap
Good websites borrow from UX: clear navigation, accessible contrast and a mobile-first layout. Good products borrow from web design: strong visual identity and typography. That is why working with one designer across both can keep a brand consistent from the first landing page to the last settings screen.
You can see both sides in practice in the Desklog case study, which covers product modules and the marketing homepage.