Creating a new website necessitates the understanding of several disciplines, two of which are website design and website development. Although the terms appear to be interchangeable because they are both necessary to the process of developing a new website, there are some distinctions. Today I’ll go through a few differences between website design and website development, as well as how they work together.
How Are the Roles Different?
The two professions are, in many ways, mutually exclusive. They employ separate methodologies, tools and procedures to meet distinct objectives. To develop a website that not only meets the client’s expectations visually but also incorporates sound search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques and is still functional, these differences must be embraced.
In the Spotlight vs. Behind the Scenes
A straightforward approach to distinguish the site designer’s labor from that of the software developer is to think of it in terms of two components. The majority of designers will concentrate on what viewers can see. This necessitates their attention on how people will navigate and comprehend the information, as well as how they will react to it.
The primary difference between a developer and an architect is that a developer will focus on the back end of the site (the area that users cannot see.) This is where all of the functioning components make the site interactive. Web developers are often called either front-end or back-end developers. In a nutshell, the front-end developer’s function is comparable to that of a designer—he or she creates what visitors can see on the site. The backend developer will be more focused on technological aspects of the site, such as CMSs, form submissions, and data transfers.
Aesthetics vs. Logistics
Creating a website is similar to constructing a home. The mission is to construct something beautiful and unique with a solid foundation. Web design and development are similarly defined: the visual side of the process concerns itself with elements like graphics, colours, and layouts, while the user experience aspect focuses on utilising these features to improve the visitor’s experience. This could include
- Creating a user-friendly layout that points users to the site’s most important features,
- Using the same typefaces, colour palettes, and graphics across all materials is another way to ensure consistency.
- Including appealing content, such as a video or compelling photos.
After the concept is outlined, the visual components serve as a guide for web development. It’s now up to the developer to turn the site into an interactive and working business from a practical standpoint. Their efforts might be concentrated on
- Choosing the right platform to create your website is critical.
- Incorporating usable features like eCommerce features, forms, and plugins, and
- Creating and modifying code to fulfil the designer’s aesthetic objectives while also ensuring that the site runs quickly and smoothly.
Design Software vs. Coding Language
Another distinction between web designers and web developers is the software and applications they use to build a website. Designers will employ programs such as Adobe Creative Suite (for example InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop) to create a flat, visual representation or a mockup of the site. To construct a site and make it interactive, developers will utilise coding language (such as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript).
How Are the Roles Alike?
When it comes to website design and development, there’s a lot of collaboration between the two skill areas, and some overlap is unavoidable. More individuals are being trained to have a little of both skills, and CMSs can also help people get started in both areas at an entry-level or intermediate level.
The goal of website design and development is to combine creative and technical abilities in order to create a beautiful, logical website. By aligning themselves on the same major objective, they may build a website that is user-friendly, boosts brand recognition, and produces leads.
