UX/UI designers and product designers have both similar and different roles in an organisation. Some skills and knowledge overlap, however knowing the difference between these two will help you go in the right direction in your design career.

UX/UI & product design similarities

• Both have skills in research, ideation, interface design, testing.

• Their roles can be easily switched. Some companies might need product designers but still want UX/UI design.

• They both follow and iterative design approach.

• At their core, both of them work to solve user problems while helping their business.

Differences between UX/UI & product designers

Now, the differences are much more evident when it comes to day-to-day activities. One definitely needs a few more skills in order to become a product designer.

• Product designers focus more on the strategies and paths the product needs to take based on market research and analysis. They also cater to the business needs and challenges and work closely with product managers. On the other hand, UX/UI designer are spending time on user research, testing, interface design, visual design, and more. They will often work closely with product designers to understand the product better.

• Product designers are trained in communication, leadership, business acumen and analysis, and understanding data; apart from design thinking skills. UX/UI designers are experts at UX research methodologies, doing usability testing, wire-framing and UI design.

• UX/UI designers can have an easier entry into the entry even without experience. They often have specialisations like interaction design, UX strategy, information architecture, etc. Product designers on the other hand need a little more experience and can come from a UX/UI background or product management background.

Is one better than the other?

Straight answer is, NO. Both these career paths have equal growth and future opportunities. With UX/UI design you will have more design focused and specialisation growth. Product designers will surely be business focused and can pivot to executive and management roles in the future. Comparing salaries or work is irrelevant, since some UX/UI designers are earning more than product designers, and vice-versa.