Understanding the Question

When an interviewer asks you to explain the difference between UX design and interaction design, they are probing your understanding of the fundamental concepts and your ability to articulate these concepts clearly. This question is crucial for an Interaction Designer because it touches on the core of what makes this role distinct within the broader field of User Experience (UX) design.

UX design refers to the process of creating products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. This involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability, and function.

Interaction Design, a subset of UX design, focuses specifically on the interaction between users and products. The aim is to create engaging interfaces with well-thought-out behaviors. Understanding this distinction is key to demonstrating your expertise and suitability for an Interaction Designer role.

Interviewer's Goals

The interviewer is looking to gauge your:

1. Understanding of Key Concepts: Demonstrating a clear grasp of both UX design and interaction design principles.
2. Ability to Differentiate: Clearly distinguishing between the broader field of UX and the specific focus of interaction design.
3. Professional Knowledge: Showing your depth of knowledge in the field, and by extension, your capability as an Interaction Designer.
4. Communication Skills: Your ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.

How to Approach Your Answer

When responding to this question, structure your answer to first define both UX design and interaction design individually and then highlight the distinctions between the two. Be concise but comprehensive in your definitions, ensuring that you convey the breadth of UX design and the depth of interaction design.

1. Start with Definitions: Briefly define UX design and interaction design.
2. Highlight the Scope: Point out that UX design is broader, encompassing various aspects of the user's experience with a product, while interaction design focuses specifically on the user's direct engagement with the product.
3. Emphasize the Focus: Mention that interaction design is concerned with crafting interactive elements to facilitate a seamless and engaging user experience.
4. Use Examples: Concrete examples can help clarify the distinction. For instance, UX design might involve conducting user research or creating personas, while interaction design would delve into designing and prototyping specific interactions like swiping actions on a mobile app.

Example Responses Relevant to Interaction Designer

Example 1:

"As an Interaction Designer, I understand that while both UX design and interaction design aim to improve user satisfaction, they do so from different angles. UX design is about the overall feel of the experience, including ease of use, efficiency, and enjoyable interactions. It encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products. On the other hand, interaction design focuses more narrowly on crafting engaging interfaces and interactions between the user and the product. For example, while a UX designer might be concerned with the overall user journey and solving user problems, my role as an Interaction Designer would be to make sure the interactions within that journey, such as button clicks or gesture controls, are intuitive and pleasurable."

Example 2:

"In my view, UX design is an umbrella term that covers a variety of disciplines aimed at making products more usable and enjoyable, whereas interaction design is one of those disciplines, focusing specifically on the interaction between the user and the product. As an Interaction Designer, my focus is on the micro-interactions that occur within the designed systems. This includes everything from the response time of an interaction to the animations that play during user interactions. These details are crucial in making the user’s experience as engaging and intuitive as possible, which is a key part of what I bring to the table."

Tips for Success

• Stay Focused on Interaction Design: While you should demonstrate an understanding of both fields, remember to emphasize your expertise and role within interaction design.
• Be Specific: Use specific examples or anecdotes from your experience to illustrate your points. This not only makes your answer more compelling but also demonstrates your hands-on experience.
• Understand the Broader Context: While the question focuses on differentiating two roles, it's also an opportunity to show how interaction design fits into the broader goal of creating excellent user experiences.
• Practice Clear Communication: Being able to explain complex concepts in simple terms is a critical skill for any designer. Practice your response to ensure clarity and conciseness.

Approaching this question with a clear structure, specific examples, and a focus on your role within the broader field of UX design will demonstrate your expertise and communicative clarity, positioning you as a strong candidate for the Interaction Designer role.