Web designer or Web developer? Which one are you?
What is the difference between a web designer and a web developer? This question is raised by majority of the people. Many a times, people are confused and end up blending the two terms. Well, there is a vast difference between the two. Intrigued? Let’s dive in!
In case you’re strictly speaking about the overall idea of web design vs. web development, the distinction is somewhat more clear. Web design is concerned with what the user actually sees on their PC or cell phone(the “mainstage”), while web development administers all the code that makes a website tick(the “backstage”).
What is web design?
Web design oversees everything involved with the visual aesthetics and convenience of a website — color scheme, layout, data flow, and everything else related to the visual aspects of the UI/UX (user interface and user experience). Some common skills and tools that distinguish the web designer from the web developer are:
Graphic design
Logo design
Layout/format
Branding
Wireframes, mock-ups, and storyboards
Color palettes
Web design is concerned with creating a website that focusses on aesthetic factors like layout, user interface and other visual imagery in order to make the website more visually appealing and easy to use.. Through the use of color, images, and typography, they bring a digital experience to life. That said, many web designers are also familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Web designers likewise frequently work with templating services like WordPress or Drupal, which allows you to create websites using themes and widgets without composing a single line of code.
What is web development?
Web development is the programming that enables website functionality, as per the owner’s requirements. It mainly deals with the non-design aspect of building websites, which includes coding and writing markup. It can be split into two categories — front-end and back-end. The front-end or client-side of an application is the code responsible for determining how the website will actually display the designs created by a designer. The back-end or server-side of an application is responsible for managing data within the database and serving that data to the front-end to be displayed. Some common skills and tools traditionally viewed as unique to the front-end developer are:
HTML/CSS/JavaScript
Frameworks (i.e. AngularJS, ReactJS, Ember)
Libraries (i.e. jQuery)
Git and GitHub
Front-end web developers don’t usually create mock-ups, select typography, or pick color palettes — these are usually provided by the designer. It’s the developer’s job to rejuvenate those models. Having said that, understanding what the designer wants requires a good knowledge in UI/UX design so that the developer is able to cherry pick the right technology to convey the ideal look and believe in the final result.
Welcome the “Tigon”
Well, I am talking about the designer-developer hybrid who can do it all. This has now proved to be a viable endgame for both web designers and web developers, thanks to the increase in the availability of educational resources across the web. Those developers/designers who have a good grasp of both the skills are highly sought after in the industry. The “Tigon” can take your project from the conceptual stage of storyboards, and carry it through front-end development all by themselves. This leads not only to better communication on the team and a smoother workflow, it means you’ll land on the best solution possible. As a general rule, feel free to rely on the “Tigon” for small projects, where it’s feasible for one or two people to handle both the design and development of an application. For bigger undertakings, regardless of whether you do figure out how to recruit a couple “Tigons,” all the more plainly characterized jobs are required.
So, this is it! I hope I was able to clear most of your confusions regarding both the terminologies. Have a good day!
