In the era of the digital population, there is barely any business left that doesn't have or need a website. Currently, there are 1.95 billion websites on the internet, and most are commercial. If you have a business that you want to represent on the internet, a web development company is your best friend.

However, before you ask around for the right web developing company, make sure you know your requirements well. Many companies use the terms of web development and web design interchangeably.

This depends on the service provider and the way they define their services. But when we compare web design vs web development, there is much difference.

For a layman, it may confuse and ultimately lead to unnecessary investment. To avoid such unpleasant scenarios, and get the job done on the first go, learn some facts about these two practices.

In this article, we will talk about both the services and their specifications in detail.

Web Design vs Web Development

To understand the difference between the two, we have to know them well individually.

We will learn about the principles of web design and web development that distinguish them from each other and know about their respective significance in creating a website.

Let's dive in.

Web Design

When you look at the term, it gives you the idea right away. It is about the website's design, about transforming a story or an idea into a visually attractive format.

Web designers are like architects who use their layout to build a stunning and dynamic user experience throughout the website. 

They are the ones responsible for the website's look and feel. And just like an architect presents the blueprint before the construction starts, the web designer creates his layout before the developer can start developing.

Web designs are essential when it comes to the success of a website. The research found that 94% of negative website feedback was design related. The first impression of your website is pivotal, and that entirely depends on the layout.

Up to 75% of consumers tend to judge the company's credibility by merely looking at the website design. Thus, the web designer has to shoulder a huge responsibility, and if he fails to deliver, the greatest sufferer would be you.

reasons for not convertingSource: webalive

The Ultimate Goal of a Web Designer

The ultimate goal of a web designer is to integrate the best user experience possible in his design. Remember, it takes users not more than 50 milliseconds to form an opinion about a website.

Therefore, the designer must develop a proper design strategy in the early stages of the process itself.

To ensure a good user experience, the designer must take an idea in writing and turn it into a usable interface that appeals to the users and makes them feel good.

To do that, the designers have built their strategies and techniques. The following are the initial steps:

  • Starting with a scope: Finding the focus point and the purpose of the website
  • Envisioning the design mentally: Creating a rough draft or sketch of the design
  • Creating the wireframes and mock-ups
  • Building the website in design components

Web designers may be undervalued sometimes, but their contribution to the success of the website is indispensable.

Roles of a Web Designer

  • Building the website's final layout using tools and software such as Adobe Photoshop, Framer, etc.
  • Must excel in logo design and graphic design.
  • Good understanding of user experience so he can identify the simplest means to deliver the desired result.
  • Should have a good idea about the placement of buttons, images, illustrations, etc.
  • They must be aware of the latest web designs and trends. They must keep the design consistency popularized by companies such as Facebook, Google, etc.
  • The designer should realize the familiarity of the users with certain websites and adjust his design accordingly. This makes the environment and interfaces more comfortable to navigate for the users.
  • While creating the website, the designer should also keep the branding of the website in mind, along with the colors to be used, the typography, and the website's readability.

Web Development

So, we found out that the web designers create the layout of the website, so who are the developers? Developers are the ones who turn the designs into a live website. They create the structure of the website on which it stands. 

Web developers are split into two categories, the front-end developers and the back-end developers. Between the two, the front-end developer is most closely associated with the web designer.

However, front-end developers are also connected to back-end developers.

To build a fully functional and robust website, a Fremont-end developer must have preliminary knowledge of both design and back-end development.

Now let's see what the respective functionalities of front-end and back-end developers are.

Front-end Developer

Front-end developers use three languages, JavaScript(JS), Hypertext Markup Language(HTML), and Cascading Style Sheets(CSS), to create a wholly developed website. They are used to build the following:

  • Main-design layout
  • Applying various typography
  • Inserting illustrations and animations
  • Adding font families
  • The flow of different pages
  • Form interface

Back-end Developer 

A back-end developer is responsible for server data and requests. Back-end developments are required when a website contains dynamic data such as personal data of users submitted through a form or saved articles of blogs from a page.

Any form of data collection and integration requires a database connection. 

Only a direct integration can establish this database connection with a server. The back-end developers take charge and use server languages such as PHP, ASP.NET, and write database queries in various languages, including SQL. 

So, we can see that the designer and developer or developers have to work in sync to deliver the website as per your desired standard. While one builds the pillars, the other makes the walls.

Now, let's look at the two professionals' distinct roles to understand their departments better.

Roles of a Web Developer

  • Building the interface of the website. The users can only interact with the website through this interface.
    Front-end developers are often equipped with styling preprocessors, frameworks, and javascript libraries that fasten development.
  • Front-end developers provide back-end developers with markup designs to submit all the data on the server and the database and build a dynamic website.
  • Back-end developers use languages like MySQL and PHP to create the infrastructure and backbone of the website.Both the front-end and back-end developers can do the coding and build the infrastructure using the same software tools like IDEs.
  • Web-developers also have versioning tools at their disposal that they can use to keep a history of the previous builds. This allows them to move back to the last “unbroken” version, if it may be needed.

To Conclude

It must be clear by now that there is not a lot in common between the web designer and the web developer. They have distinct responsibilities that are equally important for creating and functioning a traffic-driven web site.

Thus, whenever you hire a web designer or developer, ensure they are skilled professionals with an impeccable track record and know how web design can help you boost your sales.

Get best in class web design services: Contact Us.

Recommended Read: Tips to hire a web designer.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, web designing does not require coding. Building the website's final layout using tools and software such as Adobe Photoshop, Framer, etc, is the main objective of a web designer. Web designing involves the enhancement of the look and feel of the website.

Python is often used for web development. However, it is not a primary language for web design. Web design primarily involves creating the visual and user interface aspects of websites, which are typically achieved using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Some of the most commonly used programming languages in web development are: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, Go (Golang). The choice of language depends on various factors, including project requirements, personal preferences, and the specific aspects of web development you want to focus on.

Yes, absolutely! Beginners can learn web design, and it's a skill that can be acquired with dedication and practice. Web design encompasses both the visual and user interface aspects of creating websites, and it doesn't necessarily require a background in programming or design.

Danish Wadhwa is an entrepreneur driven by a passion for continuous learning. With over a decade in Data-Driven Marketing and certifications from HubSpot in Inbound, Content, Email, and Contextual Marketing, he specializes in driving business growth online. Besides, he writes extensively on topics ranging from digital transformation and SEO to customer engagement and business innovation.