Web Design and Web Development: Meanings and Differences

Have you ever thought of web design vs web development? When we hear the names of these aspects, we think of website creation, but how they work creates some major differences in their processes. Some nuanced differences give you an idea of the differences between web design and web development.

Both web designers and developers have an integral role in creating new or rebuilding old sites. A web designer is responsible for creating the visual look and UX of a website, aiming at usability and aesthetics. A web developer builds the structure and functionality of a website, shaping the design and turning it into a working mode. So, let’s understand the differences between web design and web development considering many factors:

1. What is web design?

Web design involves planning, intellectualizing, and arranging content online. It also involves mobile apps, web apps, and user interface design. It aims at different elements of a website such as webpage layout, content creation, and graphic design with the help of different design tools and software such as Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, and Figma. There is a popular saying by Steve Jobs, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

These days, the technique of web designing goes beyond aesthetics to include the overall functionality of a website. On average, web designs normally happen every 1.5 to 2.5 years. Know the key elements of web design, which are mentioned below:

• Layout: It is the arrangement of graphics, content, and spaces. The better the layout is, the more ease of navigation and understanding the website.
• Graphics: It includes clipart, photos, logos, and icons. Using graphics will help designers enhance user experience without overloading.
• Color: Carefully choose color depending on purpose and clientele. There are simple and multi-colored designs you can choose from. Keep in mind that colors reflect the identity or personality of a brand.
• Fonts: Make sure to use ‘web-safe’ fonts. They must be compatible with different devices and browsers. So, choose accordingly.
• Content: Content is the king, which works with design to convey the right message. The content must be useful and relevant to engage readers.
• Responsive design: Responsive means your website must work across a variety of devices. If the website adjusts according to the content and layout for different screen sizes, it means that your website has a responsive design.
• User Experience (UX): It aims at creating intuitive user interfaces and smooth user experiences by highlighting ease of use and navigation with the use of interactive elements.

2. What is web development?

Web development is the method of building, creating, and maintaining web applications and websites. It involves developing simple, static web pages, complex web applications, e-commerce sites/apps, and social network services. This procedure generally involves coding or programming that allows website functionality according to the requirements of an owner. Web development mainly deals with the non-design elements of website building such as coding and writing markup. “Code is read more than it is written.”― Daniel Roy Greenfeld, Audrey Roy Greenfeld. The trend of web development has reached another level. This is why more than 380 new websites are created every minute.

Primarily, Web development is categorized into two below-mentioned elements:

• Frontend Development: It involves client-side development. Frontend development aims at what users interact with on the site. HTML, JavaScript, and CSS are technologies used in front-end development to bring website designs to life. It works on responsive and cross-device/browser performance.
• Backend development: It is a server-side development. Under this development category, it manages queries, databases, and APIs. Moreover, it is also capable of handling user authentication, data logic, and server operations. In backend development, technologies used are Ruby on Rails, Node.js, PHP, Flask, MySQL, Django, etc.

Web designers give designs and web developers turn those designs into a properly functioned website using coding. Professionals who are proficient in both front-end and back-end development come under the category of full-stack developers. With this expertise, they can manage all elements of website development; from UX/UI design to complex server management. This is the main reason why full-stack developers are known as highly versatile in the tech industry.

You Should Also Read this Blog : Top 10 Technologies Every Web Developer Should Know in 2024

3. Differences between web design and web development

Here are some key differences between web design and web development depending on different factors:

• Focus: Web design is normally related to the visual aesthetics and user experience and it includes layout, typography, color schemes, and overall graphical appearance, whereas web development has its main focus on building and maintaining the core structure of a site.
• Tools and Technologies: In web design, tools and technologies used are Sketch, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe XD, and Figma for creating layouts and visuals. On the other hand, in web development, technologies used are Java, Ruby, Python, and PHP for backend development; HTML, Javascript, and CSS for frontend development, and React, Vue.js, and Angular for dynamic user interfaces.
• Skills needed: To create web designs, a web designer must have skills such as graphic design, responsiveness, interactivity, UI design, typography, and color theory. Whereas, a web developer must have skills for developing server-side logic, managing databases, integrating user-facing elements with server-side logic, and confirming website functionality as well as performance.
• Output: In web design, designers come up with a visual representation of a website that focuses on user experience. On the other side, web developers implement the technical framework and functionality, resulting in an operative website.
• Process: A web design process starts with conceptualization, and proceeds with designing the layout, scheme of the color, selection, and creation of the prototype. Web development includes the architecture of the site followed by coding, testing, and debugging to ensure seamless functionality.
• End Goal: In the end, the main goal to achieve is to create a visually attractive and UI/UX-friendly interface that improves user experience. On the other side, web development needs to achieve the goal, which is to build a fully functional site that fulfills particular requirements and has optimal performance across all platforms.

Paul Cookson says, “Great web design without functionality is like a sports car with no engine.” So, web designers and developers work side by side to develop a fully functional website that performs well across all devices and platforms.

4. Job descriptions of web designers and web developers

Both professionals collaborate and work together to build and maintain sites that benefit all stakeholders. Each contributes a unique set of expertise and diligence. We can think of a web designer as an architect of a website, who designs the blueprint displaying the flow and functioning of a website while a web developer builds the website. Web designers emphasize more on the creative elements of a website while developers find and implement strategies to render that vision.

Creating a strong internet presence with the help of the right aesthetics through a website is the responsibility of a web designer. On the other hand, a web developer knows how to write codes to build and maintain websites, offering a smooth user experience.

• Role of a web designer

Web designers play a key role in the completion of a website. They work on the vision of a website, which includes the user experience, the color scheme, the graphic design, and even the content. The role of a web designer is to create a look and feel that serves many purposes of a website. A web designer’s role has 3 main parts:

• User Interface or UI is related to the ‘feel’ of the website that encompasses conveying the message of the brand throughout the application.
• User Experience or UX is concerned with how easily users can navigate the site and enhancing areas of concern according to feedback.
• Visual Design is all about the graphics. It ensures everything is laid out appealingly.
  
  
  
• Role of a web developer

Web developers often suggest changes in designs. A web developer takes the vision of a web designer and transforms it into code. Web developers need to ensure that the website works well on different browsers and mobiles. They also need to determine how to maintain the security of a website.

Web developers might work in backend, frontend, or full-stack development categories.

• Back-end developers need to work on the website’s structure including database management and servers.
• Front-end developers need to work on writing codes for site elements that are directly accessed by users including interactive features and site content.
• Full-stack developers work with both types of web development and monitor the procedure from start to end.

5. How to become a web designer?

To become a web designer, there is no need to have a formal college degree.  But having a college degree can help you in many other ways. With a bachelor’s degree in photography, graphic design, programming, video production, or digital writing, you can add value to your resume. Along with it, you will get structured learning paths to develop many in-demand skills for web designer positions.

If you have a dream to become a web designer, you can enroll yourself in web design courses like graphic design software, web design theory, and search engine optimization tools.

The exact skills you need may vary according to the role and the type of website you are going to work on. But there are some common web designer skills including:

• Deep understanding of typography, composition, color theory, and web design principles
• Proficiency in common design software
• Having basic diligence in JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and front-end programming
• Understanding of data analytics associated with user flow and web traffic, and also how to use common SEO tactics
• Having some brief knowledge of content management systems
• Strong verbal and written communication

It is also important to have some strong human skills including time management, leadership, adaptability, and teamwork.

6. How to become a web developer?

Several web developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science. You can build your skills through boot camps and certifications. There are some common certifications for web developers such as Oracle certifications, Red Hat certifications, etc. Under these certifications, your technological concepts like Java programming, database design, and application development are tested.

As there are front-end developers, back-end developers, and full-stack developers, the specific skills you need may vary according to your role within a team or a project you get. Some common skills you need are:

• Proficiency in front-end development languages such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
• Proficiency in back-end development languages including Java, Python, and SQL
• Knowledge of database architectures
• Understanding of common front-end frameworks including React and Angular
• Expertise in debugging and troubleshooting
• Expertise in APIs or Application Programming Interfaces

To become a highly-skilled web developer, you must have skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking along with written and verbal communication skills.

7. Cost and value

Generally, it depends on the country where you are going to hire. A web developer costs more than a web designer. For instance, in the USA, the average salary for a web designer is around USD 51,000 a year, and for a web developer, it is around USD 73708 a year.

The cost of designing or developing a site varies as designers and developers are usually paid by the hour. The average web designer gets $24 per hour, while it is $36 per hour for a web developer.

8.Conclusion

The process of web design and web development are somehow similar to each other as they are related to website building and management but in different ways. Both processes have their functions and elements, but they go hand in hand. Web design is a creative field, while web development belongs to technicality. Web designers and web developers collaborate to create a completely functional website that is visually appealing to users.