The Critical Difference Between a UX Designer, UI Designer, and Web Designer?

Building the Right Website Starts Here

Are you thinking about launching or redesigning your website but feeling lost in the sea of design terms? You’re not alone. If you’re in Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, Miami, or San Francisco, and looking to build an online presence, chances are you’ve come across titles like UX designer, UI designer, and web designer.

But what do they mean—and which one do you actually need?

In this blog, I will break down the differences between UX, UI, and Web designers so you can understand their roles and how they can impact your business.

Let’s break it down in simple terms to help you choose the right expert for your website journey.

1. What Is a UX Designer?

Focus: How a website feels and functions for users.
UX designers focus on the experience people have when using your website. Their job is to make sure your site is intuitive, user-friendly, and helps visitors achieve their goals—whether that’s buying a product, booking a service, or learning about your business.

What they Do:

  • Research user behavior and pain points.
  • Map out customer journeys (how users move through your site).
  • Test designs to improve usability.
  • Optimize layouts for seamless navigation.

Why You Might Need one:

  • You want your website to convert more visitors into paying customers.
  • You’re struggling with high bounce rates (people leaving your site quickly).
  • You need to streamline your user experience, especially for online stores or service bookings.

2. What Is a UI Designer?

Focus: How a website looks and engages visually.
UI designers are all about aesthetics and making your site visually appealing. They handle the look and feel of buttons, colors, fonts, icons, and interactive elements to create a polished, professional product.

What they Do:

  • Create buttons, menus, and visual layouts.
  • Create consistent branding and color schemes.
  • Enhance responsiveness for mobile and desktop screens.
  • Focus on visual appeal and interactive elements.

Why You Might Need one:

  • You want your website to stand out visually and feel modern.
  • Your site looks outdated, and you want to attract high-end clients.
  • You need branding consistency across web pages and other platforms.

Focus: Building and designing the entire website.
Web designers are like the project managers of your website. They often combine skills in both UX and UI, offering a more comprehensive service. They handle the overall website structure, and layout, and work with developers to bring the website to life.

What they Do:

  • Create layouts and templates for your site.
  • Work with UX and UI principles to balance function and beauty.
  • Coordinate with developers to ensure proper implementation.
  • Optimize for SEO and responsiveness across devices.

Why You Might Need One:

  • You’re building a website from scratch and need someone to handle everything.
  • You’re updating your website and need a full-service solution.
  • You’re looking for someone to oversee building your website.

Analyze Your Needs: Decide Which One Do You Need

  • UX Designer: Focuses on creating seamless user experiences for conversions. Ideal for complex websites like e-commerce stores.
  • UI Designer: Focuses on making your site visually appealing and polished. Perfect for branding consistency.
  • Web Designer: Covers the full web application product process, combining UX, UI, and development coordination. Ideal for building or redesigning websites from the ground up.

Take The Bold Step: Get Started Today

  • Whether you’re launching a new business or revamping your current website, understanding these roles will help you make the right decision. The good news? Many web designers today have overlapping skills in User experience and User Interface, so you may not need to hire three separate experts.

    Still unsure where to start? Let’s talk. I specialize in web design that blends functionality and style to attract more clients and grow your business.

          Contact me today, and let’s build something amazing for your brand!

Matthew Ayorinde

Matthew Ayorinde

Matthew is a philosopher and web designer. He is highly curious, motivated, and passionate about problem-solving and uncovering the 'why' in various situations. He is inspired to pursue a career in the UX Design with specialty in Web Design to use the power of design to help businessowners. He abides by the slogan "web that sells."

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