Additional resources
What Does a UI Designer for Websites Do?
Defining Website UI Design
Key Outcomes for Business and Users
The UI Designer's Position in a Product Team
UI Designer vs Web Designer vs UX Designer
Overlapping Skill Sets Explained
Distinct Responsibilities and Deliverables
Choosing the Right Specialist for Your Project
Core Responsibilities of a Website UI Designer
Visual Hierarchy and Layout Strategy
In today's digital landscape, the role of a UI designer has become increasingly crucial for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. Understanding what UI designers for websites do and how they contribute to your project's success is essential when building your remote team.
What Does a UI Designer for Websites Do?
Defining Website UI Design
Website UI design focuses on creating the visual and interactive elements that users directly engage with when visiting your site. A UI designer is responsible for crafting every visual component—from buttons and icons to color schemes and typography—that facilitates seamless user interactions. Unlike other design disciplines, UI design specifically addresses how users visually perceive and interact with your website's interface.
The primary goal of a User Interface Designer is to create interfaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient, ensuring users can navigate your website intuitively and accomplish their goals with minimal friction.
Key Outcomes for Business and Users
When you hire a skilled Web UI Designer, you can expect several tangible benefits:
Increased conversion rates through strategically designed call-to-action elements
Reduced bounce rates due to intuitive navigation and clear visual hierarchy
Enhanced brand perception through consistent visual language
Improved user satisfaction resulting from frictionless interactions
Better accessibility, allowing more users to engage with your content
From a business perspective, quality UI design directly impacts your bottom line. Studies consistently show that every dollar invested in user interface design can yield returns of $10 to $100, making it one of the most cost-effective investments for digital products.
The UI Designer's Position in a Product Team
A Website UI Designer typically works as part of a cross-functional product team, collaborating closely with:
UX designers who focus on the overall user experience and user flows
Product managers who define requirements and business objectives
Front-end developers who implement the designs using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Content strategists who ensure messaging aligns with visual elements
In smaller organizations, UI designers often take on broader responsibilities that may overlap with UX research or front-end development. In larger teams, they might specialize in specific aspects like design systems or responsive design.
UI Designer vs Web Designer vs UX Designer
Overlapping Skill Sets Explained
While these roles share some common ground, they each have distinct focuses:
UI designers for websites concentrate on the visual and interactive aspects of digital interfaces
Web designers typically handle both structural layout and visual elements, often with less depth in interaction design
UX designers focus on the overall user journey, information architecture, and emotional response
All three roles require an understanding of design principles, but the depth of knowledge in specific areas varies. Most professionals have skills that overlap across these categories, with many identifying as UI/UX designers to reflect this versatility.
Distinct Responsibilities and Deliverables
When comparing deliverables, the differences become clearer:
UI Designer Deliverables:
High-fidelity visual designs and interface components
Interactive prototypes demonstrating specific interactions
Comprehensive UI style guides and design systems
Detailed specifications for front-end development
Web Designer Deliverables:
Site layouts and page templates
Basic responsive design frameworks
Visual assets like banners and graphics
Sometimes basic HTML/CSS implementation
UX Designer Deliverables:
User personas and journey maps
Information architecture diagrams
Low-fidelity wireframes
User research reports and usability findings
Choosing the Right Specialist for Your Project
Selecting the appropriate design specialist depends on your project's specific needs:
Choose a UI designer when you have clear user flows but need a polished, visually cohesive interface that reflects your brand
Opt for a web designer when you need a straightforward website with standard interactions and a professional look
Select a UX designer when you're solving complex problems and need to understand user behavior before defining solutions
For comprehensive projects, the ideal approach often involves both UX and UI design expertise, either from specialists who collaborate or from professionals with hybrid skills.
Core Responsibilities of a Website UI Designer
Visual Hierarchy and Layout Strategy
A primary responsibility of UI designers is establishing effective visual hierarchy—guiding users' attention to the most important elements first. This involves strategic use of:
Size and scale to emphasize primary content
Color and contrast to highlight key actions
Spacing and positioning to create logical flow
Typography choices that enhance readability and importance
Through careful layout strategies, UI designers ensure users can scan pages efficiently and locate important information without conscious effort.
