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Creative UI/UX Design Agency
All ServicesEvery day we are surrounded by multiple “user experiences” – both in the analogue and digital world. While user experience (UX) is a conglomeration of tasks focused on the optimisation of a product for effective and enjoyable use, user interface (UI) design is its complement – the look, feel, overall presentation and interactivity of a product or service.
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More and more companies are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of designing the best digital experiences – which is where we come in. At Platform81, our award-winning team of web developers and designers deliver technical expertise and design flair to every single project, guaranteeing a stand-out website that features an engaging layout, simple UX and content that has real impact.
User Experience (UX)
UX focuses on levels of usability, analysis and social relationships and applies to anything that can be experienced, whether it’s a website, a coffee machine, or even a visit to the supermarket. The “user experience” part refers to the interaction between the user and the product or service. The “design” aspect then considers all the different elements that help shape this experience.
At Platform81, we not only focus on identifying the problems and pain-points users come up against, but also how to solve them. We conduct extensive user research in order to distinguish your target market and what their needs are in relation to your product or service. We then map out the user’s journey, considering things like information architecture i.e. how the content is organised and labelled, and what kinds of features the user might need, eventually creating wireframes and high-fidelity website mock-ups for both desktop and mobile – ready for our UI designers to bring it to life.
User Interface (UI)
A user interface is the point of interaction between the user and a digital device or product, like the touch screen on your smartphone, or the touch pad you use to select a coffee from the coffee machine.
Usually developed using HTML, CSS or JavaScript, UI design takes into consideration all the visual, interactive elements of a product interface that impact the first impression of the user, including buttons, icons, spacing, typography, imagery, colour schemes and more.
Our team of experienced designers will consider each and every visual aspect of the user’s journey, including all the individual screens and touch points that the user might encounter – think tapping a button, scrolling down a page or swiping through an image gallery. Our goal is to visually guide the user through an accessible, inclusive and intuitive experience that is both consistent, coherent and aesthetically pleasing.
Why is web design so important?
When it comes to website design, UX and UI complement each other – you can’t have one without the other. In today’s competitive market, getting both aspects right is an absolute must.
While UX design essentially maps out the user journey through identifying and solving user problems, UI design focuses on all the details that make this journey possible. Both elements work hand-in-hand and are crucial in creating an easy, insightful and efficient application.
By taking advantage of every user experience tool and technique at our disposal, we guarantee your website will be as functional as it is beautiful, whilst also ensuring users can easily and intuitively find what they need.
How can Platform81 help?
At Platform81, our expert designers think about how the experience makes the user feel, and how easy it is for the user to accomplish their desired tasks. We take the time to understand the user, as well as your brand, then observe and conduct task analysis to see how users complete tasks by creating a user flow.
We don’t believe in the “one size fits all” approach. Your website will be designed from scratch to meet your exact specifications and objectives. Whether your customer uses a desktop, mobile or tablet, they’ll reap the rewards of our accessible, user-focused designs.
Platform 81 provided us with an excellent service. From the start the communication was good, the team were knowledgeable, helpful and friendly and clearly keen to provide a solution that worked for us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the actual difference between UI and UX design? Aren't they the same thing?
A: It’s a common mix-up, but they’re two sides of the same coin. Think of it like building a house. UX (User Experience) is the architect’s plan – it’s about making sure the house is logical, functional, and easy to live in. It’s the flow from the front door to the kitchen, making sure it all makes sense. UI (User Interface) is the interior designer – they handle all the bits you actually see and touch, like the colour of the walls, the style of the light switches, and the door handles. You need both to get a brilliant result.
Why should our business care about UI/UX? We just want a website that looks good.
A: A good-looking website is great, but if people can’t figure out how to use it, they’ll be off to a competitor in a flash. Good UI/UX is about making your website or app an absolute doddle for your customers to use. It reduces frustration, builds trust, and gently guides them to where you want them to go – whether that’s buying a product or filling out an enquiry form. It’s about turning visitors into happy customers, not just creating a pretty picture.
What does your UI/UX design process look like? How do you get started?
A: We don’t just start colouring in. We kick off with a proper deep dive to understand what you want to achieve and, more importantly, what your customers actually need. This involves mapping out user journeys (the steps they take on your site), creating wireframes (basic layouts, like a blueprint), and figuring out the best structure. It’s only after we’ve nailed this foundation that we move on to the visual design (the UI bit).
How do you make sure the design is actually easy for our customers to use?
A: We put ourselves firmly in your customers’ shoes. We map out their journey from start to finish, anticipating what they’ll be looking for and removing any potential roadblocks. We follow established design principles for things like clear navigation, obvious buttons, and readable text. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about creating a smooth, predictable, and stress-free experience for them.
Will you just give us a set of pictures, or do we get something we can actually click on?
A: You get much more than just a static picture. We create interactive prototypes. This means you’ll get a clickable model of your website or app that looks and feels like the real thing. It allows you to click through the pages, test the navigation, and get a proper feel for how it will work before we even write a single line of code. It’s brilliant for getting feedback and spotting any potential snags early on.
How much input do we get during the design process?
A: Loads. This is a partnership. We need your expertise on your business and customers, and we bring the design know-how. We’ll have regular check-ins at key stages, from the initial wireframes to the final visual designs. We want your feedback all the way through to make sure we’re creating something that not only works brilliantly but also feels completely ‘you’.
How do you test your designs to make sure they work in the real world?
A: The interactive prototypes we build are our primary testing tool. We can sit down with you and click through common tasks to see if anything is confusing or clunky. For bigger projects, we can even arrange for real users to test the prototype. Watching someone who isn’t familiar with the project try to use it is the ultimate acid test and provides incredibly valuable, honest feedback.
We already have a website. Can you improve the UI/UX on that, or do we need to start over?
A: We can definitely take a look. Sometimes, an existing site just needs some strategic tweaks to sort out a confusing journey or a clunky checkout process. Other times, if the foundations are a bit of a mess, a fresh start might be the more effective route in the long run. We’ll give you a straight, honest assessment of what we think will get you the best results.
How does good UI/UX design help our business make more money?
A: Simple. It makes it easier for people to buy from you. A good UX design guides customers smoothly towards a sale or enquiry, reducing the number of people who give up and leave (we call this improving the conversion rate). It also builds trust and satisfaction, which leads to repeat business and better brand perception. It’s a direct investment in your bottom line.
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