Difference Between Web Developers and Web Designers
What is the distinction between web designers and web developers? In the beginning of the internet and the web, the answer to that question was easy - designers created and developers code. The current situation requires some more nuance.
What is the distinction between web designers and web developers? In the beginning of the internet and the web, the answer to that question was easy - designers created and developers code. The current situation requires some more nuance.
You'd be hard-pressed to locate a Web developer who doesn't know some HTML and CSS, and you'll not need to search far for a front-end web designer who can create an outline. If you're talking only about the basic concepts of web design and web development, the distinction is clearer.
Let's examine both concepts and their roles in creating functional websites and apps we are familiar with and enjoy.
What is Web Design?
Web design controls everything that has to do with the aesthetics and user-friendliness of a website, including color schemes, layout, information flow and all the other things that affect aesthetic aspects in the UX/UI (user interface or user experience). The most common tools and skills that separate web designers from web developers include:
- Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator) or any other design software
- Graphic design
- UI design
- UX design
- Logo design
- Layout/format
- Inputting buttons with call-to-action
- Branding
- Wireframes, mockups and storyboards
- Color palettes
- Typography
Web design focuses on what users see on their desktop screens and mobile phones but less on the processes under the surface that make it all work. By using colors, images, typography and design, they can bring a digital experience to life.
What is Web development?
Web development controls every single code element that creates a website. It can be split into two categories--front-end and back-end. The front-end or client-side of an application contains the code responsible for determining how a website will display the concepts designed by the designer.
The back-end or server-side of the software program manages the data in the database and delivers this data to the front end to display. As you might have guessed, the front-end developer's job is most likely similar to a web designer. Common skills and tools that are typically thought to be unique to front-end developers are given below:
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- CSS preprocessors (i.e., LESS or Sass)
- Frameworks (i.e., AngularJS, ReactJS, Ember)
- Web template design
- Libraries (i.e. JQuery, for instance)
- Git and GitHub
- On-site SEO on-site (SEO)
Web developers who work on front-ends don't typically make mockups or choose the typeface or colors. They are typically supplied to the design team. It's the job of the developer to bring those mockups to life. But knowing what the designer is looking for is a must. It requires a basic understanding of the most effective UI/UX design practices to ensure that the developer can select the appropriate technology to provide the desired appearance, feel and experience for your final design.
Back-end developers are responsible for all the business logic and data management in the back-end application. They develop APIs and routes that enable data to flow from the front to the back ends of the application. The programming languages and tools used by back-end developers can be found below.
- Programming languages for servers (e.g., PHP, Python, Java, C#)
- Web development frameworks that are server-side (e.g., Ruby on Rails, Symfony, NET)
- Database management systems (e.g., MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL)
- RESTful APIs
- Security and authentication (e.g., OAuth, PassportJS)
- Servers (e.g., Linux, Apache, Express)
Web developers who understand the front and back end of a tech stack are known as full-stack designers.
Web designers vs. web developers - major differences at a glance
After establishing web design and development, we comprise two separate fields. Let's examine the most significant distinctions between web designers and web developers.
- Most web designers do not code
Web designers are in charge of a site's overall look and feel. They may use a visual editor, such as Photoshop, to create images or an application prototyping or animation tool like InVision Studio to design layouts and create high-quality mockups. However, none of these primary duties requires programming.
With the popularity of CMS systems for managing content (CMS) like WordPress and even non-code website builders such as Wix, web designers can apply their talents in the visual realm to build your site without needing to be able to code.
- Web developers do not create assets
Web developers are developers with the programming abilities needed to create functionality for the website. They translate designer's wireframes and mockups to code with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Web developers do not typically have to create visual assets like the images used behind button icons, colors and fonts; they need to write codes to integrate them into the webpage.
- Web developers are typically more expensive than web developers.
The cost of hiring web developers is likely to be more expensive than hiring an experienced web designer. According to ZipRecruiter, the average rate for web developers is $36/hour and the median rate for web designers is $29 per hour.
The most crucial reason behind the disparity is demand and supply. There are more designers than developers, and coding is a sought-after ability. Since coding is becoming more widespread within the pool of talent, the disparity between rates diminishes. In terms of expertise, when hiring designers or developers, you're paying for expertise.
Web designer vs web developer: Summary
Now you understand both the web development services better; however, let's briefly recap what we've learned.
The difference between web developers and web designers is greater than you imagine. Web designers translate the concept of a brand image on the screen and understand precisely what the target viewers will appreciate. Web developers create the foundation of the site with the help of coding languages, and they create logical script-driven websites.
But you'll often need both to have the most enjoyable experience. When you are building your website from scratch is the case, you require an expert web developer to create the base, as well as web designers to create it to make it appear and feel as you and, more importantly, the people who visit like it.