What is the difference between web design and web development?
There was a time when the answer to that question was quite straightforward: the work of developers is to code and designers are hired for designing. In this modern age, this question needs a little more nuance. In this article, we will take you through the basics of web designing, web development, and the difference between web design and development.
Web design is all about the visual look of a website as well as the functionality from a user’s perspective. It governs all aspects related to the visual aesthetics and usability of a site including color scheme, layout, information flow, and everything else required for the visual aspects of the UI/UX.
Web design practice is focused on what the users see on their mobile screens and less so on the mechanisms beneath the surface that make it all work.
Web development is the process of coding a site to create the intended design by using different programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, and Python, it covers all the code that makes a website tick. Web development is mainly split into two major categories, the front-end and the back-end.
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The designing part is focused mainly on creating the general look and feel of a website. Designers utilize various visual editing tools like Photoshop to create images and app prototyping and animation tools like INVision Studio to create layouts and generate high-fidelity mockups. None of these tasks require coding.
This is a major difference in web design and development. Apart from the traditional roles, designers are responsible to work on the proliferation of content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress and no-code website builders like WiX.
As discussed earlier, developing is all about adding functionality to a website through coding. Web developers also known as programmers come up with programming knowledge. They translate the designer’s wireframes, layouts, and mockups into code by using HTML, Javascript, and CSS.
The professionals involved in web development services do not generally work on creating the visual assets themselves like the photos, fonts, and buttons. They only work on the code to implement the functionalities into the page.
Another difference between web designing and web development is the cost of hiring a web designer and web developer. Hiring a web developer is more expensive than hiring a web designer. The main reason for this kind of discrepancy is improper supply and demand. The availability of designers is more than developers.
In addition, programming is a highly sought-after skill. With time, when coding becomes more ubiquitous among the talent pool, the discrepancy between rates lowers down. For an experienced professional, there is not a huge difference between web design and development, whether hiring developers or designers you are paying for the experience.
Another major difference is in the skills required for web designing and development. Well, earlier, designers will mostly be focused on the visual elements of the site including pictures, color combination, graphic design, etc, and developers were involved in the functionality side only. To ensure the smooth functioning of a site, web developers need a solid amount of technical knowledge. It can include understanding complex programming languages and frameworks.
Even the skills required of a web designer have evolved rapidly over the last decade, from being mostly focused on visuals to more of a functional and holistic focus that brings a larger experience together. While there is some research and analysis involved in the designing process, a web designer’s role is less technical and more about the visual and creative parts of a site.
Tools used in each process present another key difference between web design and development. While web developers work on different programming languages like CSS, HTML, and Javascript to create sites and web apps, designers work through different design software including Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Inkscape.
Software developers also work through different other languages to set up databases, email services, user authentication, and other technical aspects of sites. Other essential tools like text editors, versional control systems, and command line interfaces are also used to build the technical information to present the data.
Web designers create the layout of the site through wireframes and prototypes. They are also responsible for controlling the flow of information and website analytics in some cases.
With time, as people are improving themselves and refining the tools they use to finish tasks, the actual work they do is also changing. So, it is sure that web designing and web developers will be doing very different works 10 years from now. With the evolvement of the tasks in designing and development, these jobs title may become a hybridized version of both, with overlapping skills.
Web designers and developers both play a critical role in building, constructing, and maintaining websites, one needs to have both services to have a final site. Overall, the two roles depend on each other to deliver a quality product.
In the present digital era, every business looks for an interactive and highly-optimized site to grow. Here, a Web design and development agency plays a major role in making the website attractive and engaging with all the important features.
But since there are numerous designing and developing agencies in the market, it has become quite tough to decipher which agency we should take our chance with. Here are five of the most important determining factors to consider when choosing a web design and web development company:
First of all, analyze your requirements, you need to have a clear idea about the purpose of your site. Does your site provide information to the customers? Do you need to have payment and shipping options? And there are many such criteria that you need to consider before going for your marketing partner.
Although you want to have your website development and design services at an affordable price, it is also vital not to compromise on the quality. Many digital marketing firms ensure you deliver your project at a very low price. Don’t get fooled to save some money. It’s okay if you have to pay a bit higher but always go for quality first.
Choosing a developing firm is a huge decision because it directly impacts your online presence. First, check the reviews of those who have already taken the services from the agency. Feedback from the previous client will provide you with more visibility. Also, go through their work samples properly and scribble down what you want and what you don’t want.
Designing and developing a website at once is not a tough nut to crack. But the actual work begins after it goes live. Maintaining the website, ensuring all the features are working well the site is easy to load, designs are updated. Here, you need customer support from your web agency. Make sure the firm you are choosing provides 24*7 customer support.
And that’s it on the difference between web design and development. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the key differences between web design and web development. Both play significant roles, and the web would not exist without one or the other.
Whether you are looking to have a website development or designing, knowing the difference between web design and development will come in very handy. Keep it in mind that there’s plenty of overlap involved, and some people do both. In addition, the two need to work together smoothly if your end goal is to have an attractive, highly-functional site.
Do you have any more doubts regarding web design and development? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below!
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j
Very informative and impressive post you have written, this is quite interesting and I have gone through it completely, an upgraded information is shared, keep sharing such valuable information.
J
Glad you found this useful! For more such insights on your favorite topics, do check out JanBask Blogs and keep learning with us!
T
This is a very helpful post. I read it very pleasantly, I liked it. You have presented very good information.
J
Thank you Tapasya, stay updated with our new blogs. 🙂
S
I did not know their difference. found out now. thank you for sharing.
A
Hey JanBask,
After reading this article I clearly understood the difference between web design and development.
Thank you for this information
J
Thanks Aaron, glad you found it helpful!
M
Well explained and very organized content .
M
Well organized and detailed explanation. I really like this article.
A
The article seems so informative
J
Thanks for your feedback!
P
Interesting and informative information. Thanks!
A
Thanks for sharing informative article, I really like this post.
W
This blog is a source of amazing knowledge and wonderful information, where you can extract topic-related content easily, and you can find it according to the media of interest.
J
Thanks for you feedback! 🙂
A
Very well explained. I liked it.
D
your information is very good and helpful. you explained the topic in an easy way. it is appreciated.