UX/UI Designer vs. Product Designer: What are the Key Differences
Categories
Business
Pro Tips
Author
Lee Barguss
Published
7 Feb 2025
In the world of digital product design, two roles often get mixed up: UX/UI Designer and Product Designer. While both contribute to creating user-friendly and visually appealing experiences, their responsibilities and impact on the product lifecycle differ significantly.
If you're considering a career in design or hiring for your team, understanding these differences can help you with the direction or path needed you to take.
First, what is a UX/UI Designer?
A UX/UI Designer specialises in designing user-friendly and visually appealing interfaces for digital products such as websites, apps, and software. Their role is a combination of two key disciplines:
User Experience (UX) Design
A UX Designer focuses on how a product feels and functions from the user’s perspective. Their work includes:
Conducting user research to understand pain points and behaviours
Creating user personas to define target audiences
Mapping user journeys to streamline interactions
Developing wireframes and prototypes to test design solutions
Running usability tests and gathering feedback for continuous improvement
User Interface (UI) Design
The UI aspect of the role involves the visual and interactive side of the product. A UI Designer’s responsibilities include:
Designing layouts, typography, colours, and other visual elements
Ensuring a cohesive design system across all screens and platforms
Crafting interactive components like buttons, animations, and transitions
Collaborating with developers to implement pixel-perfect designs
Together, UX and UI work hand in hand to improve usability, accessibility, and aesthetics of a digital product, ensuring that users enjoy a seamless experience.
What is a Product Designer?
A Product Designer takes a broader approach, often overseeing the entire product development process beyond just UX and UI. They combine design thinking with business strategy to shape the overall product experience. Their role typically involves:
1. Holistic Product Thinking
Product Designers don’t just focus on how something looks or functions – they consider the bigger picture. This involves:
Aligning design decisions with business goals
Understanding user needs while balancing technical feasibility and business constraints
Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the product achieves long-term success and business goals
2. Research & Strategy
Product Designers conduct in-depth research to make informed design decisions, including:
Analysing market trends and competitors
Defining product roadmaps based on data-driven insights
Testing hypotheses through iterative design improvements
3. Prototyping & Validation
Similar to UX Designers, Product Designers so create prototypes, but they also:
Validate ideas by testing multiple solutions
Work closely with engineers to ensure designs are technically feasible
Iterate based on real user feedback and business metrics
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Because their scope extends beyond UI, Product Designers often work closely with other team members in different departments:
Product Managers – to define features and roadmap priorities
Developers – to ensure smooth implementation
Marketing Teams – to align brand messaging and positioning
Customer Support Teams – to address user pain points post-launch
Key Differences Between UX/UI Designers and Product Designers
While both roles contribute to user-centred design, here’s how they differ:
Scope
UX/UI Designer – Focuses on usability, UI design, and interaction design
Product Designer – Takes a broader view, considering business goals and product strategy
Main Goal
UX/UI Designer – Enhancing user experience through intuitive design
Product Designer – Creating an effective product that balances user needs and business success
Research
UX/UI Designer – Conducts usability testing and user research
Product Designer – Also includes market research, competitive analysis, and business insights
Collaboration
UX/UI Designer – Works closely with developers and designers
Product Designer – Works across multiple teams, including product management and marketing
Deliverables
UX/UI Designer – Wireframes, prototypes, UI components
Product Designer – Product roadmaps, design systems, and business-aligned solutions
So, which Role is Right for You?
If you’re considering a career in design, choosing between UX/UI Design and Product Design depends on your interests:
If you enjoy crafting beautiful interfaces and user-friendly interactions, UX/UI design might be a great fit.
If you’re interested in big-picture thinking, problem-solving, and product strategy, Product Design could be the way to go.
For businesses, hiring the right role depends on your needs. If you need someone to improve the usability and aesthetics of your app or website, a UX/UI Designer is ideal. If you need someone to shape the product’s direction and align design with business objectives, a Product Designer will add more value.