Web Design vs. Web Development

Web Design
Web Design vs. Web Development
Article by Maria Martin
Last Updated: March 08, 2024

The processes of web design vs. web development have been around for as long as websites existed. And while the terms design and development of a website are often used interchangeably, these require different skill sets.

So, what is website design and development? How are they related and different from each other?

In this post, we will take a closer look at the distinction and association of web designing and development.

What Is Website Design and Development?

Web design vs. web development are umbrella terms referring to the website-building process.

Website creation covers two major skills—web designing and development. The former dictates your site’s appearance, while the latter determines the website’s functions.

On the one hand, design delivers what end-users see on the website’s front end—layout, typography, images, color palette, and overall interface. All these elements go into your site’s branding and usability.

Web designers usually utilize the following tools:

  • Photoshop
  • Illustrator
  • Fireworks
  • Sketch

On the other hand, development is what implements the design through coding languages, such as:

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

Integral for the design’s responsiveness and adaptiveness, development makes interaction with website elements possible for audiences.

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Designer vs. Developer: Scope of Role

To better distinguish between web design vs. web development, we discuss the functions and skills of the people involved in each job.

Web Designer

These are the common specialties of web designers:

User Interface (UI) Designers

UI designers are responsible for fully functioning and seamless user interaction with your website. They ensure site visitors can interact with each component on the web pages without a glitch.

These specialists guarantee the accessibility of the website through the most fitting workflow that people expect.

Here are the primary focuses of a UI designer:

  • Aesthetics
  • Easy usability
  • Visual display
  • Visual consistency
  • Layout
  • Neatness and interactivity
  • Elimination of unnecessary elements depending on brand guidelines

Note that an excellent user interface can up your site’s conversion rate by 200%.

User Experience (UX) Designers

UX designers are responsible for user engagement with your website. They evaluate information prior to finalizing any design, running complex analyses, tests, and restructuring as necessary. All these contribute to ensuring optimal user experience.

In addition, UX designers decipher what prospective customers and other site users want from a web page. They perform these tasks:

  • Sketching user personas
  • Building user stories
  • Executing user testing

They ensure your website exhibits the following attributes:

  • Logical web flow
  • Intuitive interactions
  • User needs fulfillment

Without good UX design, you can lose up to 89% of customers who are willing switch to competition due to poor user experience.

Visual Designers

Visual designers take on the duties of both the UI and UX designers, making a separate specialist profile.

Visual designing is creating interfaces that deliver both an aesthetic appeal and user convenience. It is anchored on your brand voice. Hence, it is an overlap of the creative and technical aspects of design and programming.

General Skills Required of a Web Designer

  • Knowledge of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
  • Conversion rate optimization (CRO)
  • User journey mapping
  • Fundamental understanding of adaptive and responsive design
  • Basic understanding of web design principles, trends, and accessibility standards
  • Proficiency in prototyping and wireframing
  • Use of design tools and software
  • Understanding branding, typography, and color theory
  • Communication and collaboration skills
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Web Developer

There are three main job profiles for a web developer.

Front-End Developer

Front-end developers program all public-facing and client-side visual elements of your website. They work closely with the designers.

These experts take care of coding the site’s mock-up design and implementing interactivity, graphic aspects, and the entire layout.

Back-End Developer

Back-end developers construct the hidden layer and the core structure of a website. In contrast to front-end, this is the server-side that is not visible to website visitors.

They are adept at complex programming languages, such as:

  • Python
  • Java
  • PHP
  • SQL
  • C#
  • Ruby
  • NodeJS

Full-Stack Developer

Full-stack web developers have an excellent grasp of how the internet functions on every phase and level. This means they are proficient at:

  • Windows and Linux server setup and configuration
  • Server-side application programming interface (API) coding
  • User-side application running via JavaScript
  • Database operations and querying
  • Web page structuring and designing via HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Website debugging

Qualifications of a Web Developer

  • Proficiency in CSS, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript
  • Ability to work with jQuery and other JavaScript frameworks
  • High-level knowledge of databases and back-end servers
  • Testing and debugging skills
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Analytical thinking

Expert Insights on Web Design vs. Web Development

We asked agency experts: "What are the prerequisites for a successful web design and web development?"

  1. From Content to Collaborative Process
  2. Clear Strategic Goals
  3. Balance Between Creativity and Functionality
  4. A Light and Clear Code
  5. Content, UX and SEO

1. From Content to Collaborative Process

Hovie Hawk, Founder / Creative Director at Design Hovie Studios inc.

"The prerequisites for a successful web design and development are:

1. Starting with a strong message and quality content (copy, imagery, branding) from the client
2. Designing that content in a clear, consistent, captivating manner that is backed by best practices of current website designs (don't be so innovative you confuse the viewer)
3. Providing developers with easy to follow page layouts for desktop and mobile versions along with style sheets for type and color that minimize misunderstandings
4. Having a clear understanding between the designers, developers, and clients to work hand in hand throughout the process"

2. Clear Strategic Goals

Mandeep Kumar, CEO and Co-founder of Arete Soft Labs

"Successful web design and development hinge on clear strategic goals, a deep understanding of the target audience, and user-centred design principles. It entails implementing responsive design for optimal functionality across various devices, ensuring intuitive UI/UX for enhanced user engagement, incorporating high-quality, relevant content, and integrating SEO best practices for greater visibility."

Arman Solakian, Founder & Creative Director at Synmek

"When it comes to having a successful web design and development, clarity in project goals and objectives is paramount. It serves as the guiding light, shaping every design choice and coding decision. Without a defined purpose, the website risks becoming a mere digital presence, without any meaningful impact. A clear definition of features and functionality ensures a tailored user experience, meeting not only the client's expectations but also addressing the needs and desires of the their target audience. In essence, a well-defined project acts as the compass, steering the development team toward the creation of a digital masterpiece that seamlessly aligns with the client's vision and resonates with the target audience."

3. Balance Between Creativity and Functionality

Anastasiia Savytska, Business Development Manager at Lionwood Software

"A good working product needs a great user experience and a well-designed software solution

The key, to achieving web design and development lies in striking a balance, between creativity and functionality. When it comes to design it is essential to have a grasp of user experience, aesthetics, and branding. The goal is to create an interface that's both intuitive and visually appealing. On the development front, proficiency in coding languages, frameworks, and staying updated on the latest technologies is a must. On the other hand, making it functional, extendable, and working is also crucial. Creating a high-quality product necessitates teamwork and cooperation, between designers and developers."

4. A Light and Clear Code

Pedro Pablo Pica Montesinos, Senior Web Developer, CEO and Founder of Makinable

"At Makinable we do not separate or differentiate web design from web development: aesthetics and art must be accompanied by a light and clean code and a secure and fast-loading installation. Our designers are also web developers. We don't have teams that handle one and the other separately."

5. Content, UX and SEO

Larry (Lars) Owens of Lars Owens Design

"Content quality, user experience, and search engine optimization are crucial for a successful website design & development. Prioritize user-friendly design, compelling content, and effective SEO strategies. Key factors for a thriving website include high-quality content, seamless user experience, and strong SEO practices."

Web Design vs. Web Development in a Nutshell

Design and development of a website have distinct focuses. However, your web designer vs. developer should collaborate constantly because these two unique processes go hand in hand. Web designing and development are interlinked, and one can’t survive without the other.

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