API design is UI design — a way to collaborative handoff

API stands for Application programming interface. According to Wikipedia, it is a set of clearly defined methods of communication among various components. A good API makes it easier to develop a computer program by providing all the building blocks, which are then put together by the programmer.

If UI is for humans who interact with the face of a software, API is for programmers who interact with it behind the scenes to make the software functional.

Here’s what Jared Spool, a founding figure in design industry has to say about APIs in relation to designing screens.

As a designer, our primary role is to act as a bridge between users and stakeholders, providing necessary contexts, identifying core needs, and crafting best solutions to get the job done.

Design thinking and other User-Centered frameworks emphasize on communicating with end users. We do not hear much about communicating with internal stakeholders (e.g. developers) who will build out the solutions we design.