Web Development vs. Web design: Do you know the difference?

Many people confuse web development and website design. However, they refer to two distinct stages of the website development process. Some people who are not into the industries often refer to both professions similarly. While there is some overlap in their responsibilities, the main difference between the two is who they work for and how they spend their time.

Here’s the deal: Web development and web design are two different things—and they are both equally important. While a web designer may focus on making your website look fantastic, a web developer will take care of making sure your website functions correctly.

Web development vs. web design

When it comes to web development, we’re talking about creating a website. A developer builds the site from the ground up—they will code the site. They will also test it to ensure that it works correctly. Furthermore, they need to maintain it for its client. On the other hand, a web designer creates a site’s user experience—they are responsible for everything from content placement to color selection to typography. In essence, a website designer takes care of how something on a page looks and feels.

The two professions have different goals: a developer makes sure that a website works as intended, whereas a designer makes sure that the site is aesthetically pleasing. These are both vital parts of creating an effective website.

What is Web Development?

Web development is the creation of websites that are hosted through the internet. It’s a broad term that covers website design, the result of content, and the technology used to make a website function. Web developers can be found working in many different organizations, including large corporations and governments, small and medium-sized companies, or even by themselves as freelancers. Some developers work in a web design agency as employees or contractors, while others work on their own as freelance web developers.

Developing a website takes a lot of time and effort.

You’ve probably seen websites—they’re pages on the internet that display information or allow you to do something. Some examples are Facebook, where you can create a profile and post pictures. Other examples are Amazon (where you can buy products), and Wikipedia (a giant encyclopedia anyone can edit).

Behind the success of those websites are developers’ excellent skills and efforts. They have different skillsets and knowledge to build a website. Developers know a markup language, which is HTML and CSS. Also, they are also knowledgeable in programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and more. These are just some of developers’ responsibilities to build a great website.

What is Web Design?

Web design includes various elements such as page layout, content creation, and graphic design. Even though the phrases web design and web development are sometimes used interchangeably, web design is a subset of web development. Web designers are expected to have an awareness of usability. If their role involves creating markup, they are also likely to be updated with web accessibility guidelines.

Depending on what stage of the production process they are working on, web designers employ various tools. Newer standards and software are used to upgrade these tools throughout time, but the concepts stay the same. Web designers employ vector and raster graphics tools to develop web-formatted pictures or design prototypes.

To sum everything up, web design is one of the most critical factors in making a website successful. A big part of that success will come down to the design… so don’t let that be an afterthought!

Web development and web design go hand in hand.

They both play essential roles, but for a site to function correctly and look good, there needs to be a bit of both of them.

A great web designer will take the time to understand a client’s business goals and the vision for their site, then create designs that help them accomplish those goals. Once the plans are approved, a web developer takes those designs and builds them into a functional website.

Conclusion

I have discussed the importance of web development and website design work on your website. While they do overlap, they are two different professions with different skill sets that allow each to be better at their job when they collaborate. The result is a better website for you, so make sure you hire both! You’ll ensure that your site meets all of your needs without sacrificing quality or functionality.

If you need a team of web designers and developers who can collaborate, as well as with you, to make the right choices for your project, we are the perfect team to help your business soar. Book a call today.