Have you ever used an app or website that made you feel like tracking down the creator? Well, I for one have experienced it numerous times.

Now, what you don’t understand is that particular app or website has a bad UX (User Experience). But then, to the bigger issue: what exactly is UX? And how is it different from UI (User Interface)?

To understand these two, let’s step away from our phone screens for a second and walk down a typical Nigerian street to the local Provision Store.

The UX: How the Shop Works

Imagine you walk into Shop A. Even though the owner is busy, you notice that all the breakfast items like Milo, Milk, and Sugar are grouped together in one spot. You don't have to wander around or ask ten questions. There’s a clear path to the counter, and you’re in and out in two minutes.

That is Great UX. It’s the "logic" of the shop. It’s about how easy it is for you to get what you came for without a headache. In an app, UX is the "brain." It’s how the buttons are placed so that you can finish your transfer or book your ride without getting lost.

The UI: How the Shop Looks

Now, look at Shop B. This shop has a bright, beautiful signpost. The shelves are sparkling clean, the lights are warm, and the items are arranged so neatly they almost look like a painting. It’s visually inviting.

That is Great UI. It’s the "face" of the shop. In an app, UI is the colors, the fonts, and the icons. It’s what makes you say, "Wow, this app looks professional."

The Nigerian Reality

The problem we often face in Nigeria is that we get one without the other.

• The "Fine but Useless" App: It looks amazing with bright colors and fancy fonts (Great UI), but you can’t find the "Save" button or the page loads forever (Bad UX). It’s like a 5-star supermarket with no bread on the shelves.

• The "Working but Ugly" App: It’s super fast (Great UX), but it looks like it was designed in 1995 with colors that hurt your eyes (Bad UI). It’s like a shop that has everything you need but is so dark and messy you’re afraid to step inside.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, we shouldn't have to be "tech-savvy" just to navigate a basic website. Good design is invisible; you only really notice it when it’s missing. When a shop is organized and beautiful, you don’t think about the design: you just enjoy the shopping.

In Nigeria, we are quick to adapt to anything, but we shouldn't have to "manage" bad apps. We deserve digital spaces that respect our time, our data, and our sanity.

So, the next time you use an app that makes you want to track down the creator, just remember: you aren't the problem. The "shop" is just poorly built. Let's start expecting and building tech that actually treats us like humans.

#UIUX #NigeriaTech #ProductDesign #UserExperience #DesignThinking #TechInNigeria