User Interface – User Experience

What Is UI and UX?

UI means User Interface, which is just a fancy way of saying "what you see and touch when you use something." For example, on a video game, the buttons you press and the menu you see are part of the UI. UX means User Experience, which is how it feels to use something. Was it fun? Easy? Confusing? That's all part of the experience!

Why It Matters

Imagine building a robot with cool features—but no one can figure out how to turn it on! That's why UI and UX are super important. Good UI makes things easy to see and use, and good UX makes using them fun and simple. When you design something, always think: "Will someone enjoy using this?" and "Is it easy to understand?" Great inventors think about the person using the product, not just the parts inside.

Watch: UI & UX in Action

Interesting Materials

UX Example

Projects

Project 1: Redesign Your Favorite App or Game

Objective: Help kids understand UI design by thinking about what they already use.

Activity:

  • Ask them to pick a favorite app or game (like YouTube Kids or a drawing app).
  • Give them paper or a tablet to redesign the screen—buttons, colors, menus, and layout.
  • Encourage them to explain why they changed things: "I made the play button bigger so it's easier to find."

What They Learn: Kids explore how design choices (colors, sizes, icons) affect how easy and fun something is to use.

Project 2: Design a Paper Prototype for a New Invention

Objective: Teach UX thinking by making them consider how someone will use their invention.

Activity:

  • Ask kids to think of a new gadget or app (like a homework helper or a smart backpack).
  • They draw each "screen" or "step" on paper (e.g., Start → Choose Subject → Show Tips).
  • Then have another kid test it by pretending to use it, and give feedback: "I didn't know what to press next."

What They Learn: Kids practice designing a smooth, easy-to-understand experience, and learn from user feedback.