UX designer vs Graphic designer most people often find it hard to distinguish between these two. Both graphics designing and UX designing are indeed about creativity and coming up with beautiful designs.
However, there are certain clear distinctions between both, but the fundamental skills are the same. So being a graphics designer can help you transform into the UX designing field. Apart from that a UX designing course can help too.
In this article we will discuss the meaning, points of difference and salary range of UX designer vs graphic designer!
An Overview of UX Designer
A UX (User Experience) designer enhances how people interact with websites or apps, focusing on making the experience easy, enjoyable, and efficient. They consider user needs, behaviours, and feedback to create designs that are user-friendly and visually appealing. UX designers collaborate with teams, use wireframes and prototypes, and continually refine designs to ensure a positive and seamless user experience.
An Overview of Graphic Designer
A graphic designer is a creative professional who combines art and technology to visually communicate ideas. They use design software to create eye-catching visuals for various purposes, such as advertisements, websites, and publications. Graphic designers focus on layout, colour, and typography to convey messages effectively and engage audiences. Their work enhances the overall aesthetic and communication of a project, showcasing a blend of artistic talent and technical skill.
Primary Focus
A UX designer’s main goal is to make sure products are easy to use, understand, and meet users’ needs. They focus on improving the overall experience by creating designs that are user-friendly and intuitive for the target audience.
A graphic designer’s main focus is visually communicating ideas or messages through images, typography, and layout. They blend creativity with technical skills to design eye-catching visuals. Usually for various purposes, such as branding, advertising, or web content. The goal is to create compelling and aesthetically pleasing designs
End Goals
A UX designer’s main goals are to make things easy, accessible, and enjoyable for people using a product or service. They want users to have a smooth and satisfying experience. By focusing on usability and accessibility, UX designers aim to create designs that everyone can use comfortably. Their end goal is to ensure that people are happy and content while interacting with a website, app, or any other product. A UX designing course can help individuals to get a better understanding.
A graphics designer’s ultimate goal is to craft eye-catching designs that communicate a specific message, stir emotions, or embody a brand identity. They aim to captivate viewers through visually engaging creations, using elements like colour, layout, and imagery. Whether it’s a logo, website, or advertisement, the designer seeks to leave a lasting impression and effectively convey the intended meaning or mood.
Tools and Software
User Experience (UX) designers and Graphics designers are both crucial professionals when it comes to design. However, they use different tools and focus on distinct aspects of the creative process.
UX designers concentrate on crafting seamless and intuitive user journeys. They use tools like Figma, Sketch, and InVision to sketch out user-friendly blueprints and test their designs with real users.
On the other hand, Graphics designers are visual storytellers who emphasize the aesthetics of a design. They work with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop and Illustrator, to create visually appealing graphics, logos, and other design elements. While UX designers prioritize functionality and user satisfaction, Graphics designers prioritize the overall look and feel of a design.
In simple words, we can say that UX designers shape the entire user experience through thoughtful planning and testing. Whereas graphics designers focus on the visual elements that captivate and communicate. Both roles are important and have some similarities but major distinctions. No matter what you select between UX designer vs Graphic designer, proficiency in the required tools is a must for a successful career ahead.
Educational Requirement
A strong educational foundation is needed to become a graphics designer or a UX designer. For a graphics designer, a minimum of a high school education is often required. However, most people pursue post-secondary education. Many graphic designers have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual arts, or a related field. These programs teach fundamental design principles, and software skills, and help build a portfolio showcasing their creative work. Pursuing a graphics designing course from a reputed designing institute in India can also help kickstart the career.
Similarly, a UX designer typically needs a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as interaction design, human-computer interaction, or graphic design. However, it is still a developing field so there are not many UX designing courses available. There are still decent UX designing courses you can go for from the top designing institute in India.
Apart from these degrees and formal education, both graphics and UX designers need to stay updated on industry trends, and software advancements.
A degree is valuable, but practical experience, a strong portfolio, and a passion for creativity are equally crucial for success. These factors contribute significantly to one’s ability to thrive in such environments.
UX designer vs Graphic designer: What’s the Salary
There is often confusion when it comes to the salary of a UX designer vs Graphic designer and making a career decision. It is important to compare the salary and figure out the potential pay of the career you decide to move ahead with. So, the question is who earns more between a UX designer vs graphic designer?
On average a UX designer earns more than a graphics designer. Multiple factors affect the salary of an individual be it graphics or UX designing.
Let’s take a look at some statistics exploring the salary of these two professions in India.
According to PayScale in India, UX designers generally earn more than graphic designers, on average. Entry-level UX designers can expect around ₹400,661, while graphic designers start at ₹241,372. This gap increases with experience, with senior UX designers reaching up to ₹1,494,272, while their graphic counterparts average around₹495,793. This difference reflects the broader focus of UX on user research and problem-solving, while graphic design often concentrates on visual aesthetics.
However, there’s overlap: talented graphic designers with UX skills can bridge the gap and command higher salaries. Ultimately, both fields offer promising careers in India, with compensation dependent on individual skills, experience, and industry specialization.
According to payscale, the following UX designing and graphics designing skills can affect your salary by up to 35% and 124% respectively.
UX Skills to look out for:
- Sketch
- Wireframing
- Interaction Design
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- User Research
Graphics Designing Skills to look out for:
- Marketing Communications
- Articulate E-Learning Software
- Microsoft Word
- HTML5
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- 3D Animation
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Product Photography
- Autodesk 3ds Max
UX designing course or graphic designing course: Which is Right for You?
The need for both UX designers and graphics designers will continue to grow. For any students planning to build a career in the design field is a great idea, especially if you study at a well-known designing institute in India such as Felix-ITs.
However, the dilemma is deciding between a graphics designing course and a UX designing course. With the advent of technology and the versatility of UX designs it gets an upper hand. However, both of these are creative fields where an individual can thrive handsomely. Also, as discussed earlier, UX designers tend to get paid more so pursuing this career is a great choice.
No matter what career path you select, it is important to enroll on a graphics designing course or a UX designing course to get both theoretical and practical knowledge. Felix-ITs is a leading design institute in India offering the best learning experience to students. The course also covers hands-on experience with projects and placement assistance to help you embark on a desired career path.
If you are a graphics designer planning to switch to UX designing then consider the UX designing course offered by Felix-ITs for a smooth transition!