The Difference Between Web Design & Web Development

Web design is the visual look of a website and the practicality from the visitor or user’s perspective. Web designers often work with design software such as Figma or Adobe XD to create visually appealing user experiences. They then hand those designs off to web developers. Web application and website design involve UX designers and visual designers using their skill or talent sets to create wireframes, mock-ups, color palettes, design systems, templates, and more to help developers build the product.

Web development is the process or method of coding a website to create the intended design using programming languages like HTML, CSS, Python, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and more. There are back-end, web developers who focus on the infrastructure of a site or web application (hosting, security, etc.), there are front-end web developers who focus on the functionality of the site/app, and there are full-stack web developers that work on both front-end and back-end.

let’s take a look at the most important differences between web designers and web developers.

1) Website designers are not responsible for writing code

Another difference between web design and web development is that designers sometimes don’t write code. Of course, there are exceptions — but usually speaking, designers aren’t held accountable for coding.

Consider a web designer’s primary responsibilities. These include using an editor such as Photoshop to develop images, making mock-ups, and designing layouts. However, coding didn’t involve in any of these tasks, so that’s where web development steps into the picture.

Alternatively, some organizations or companies like better to work with ‘no code’ website builders so designers can beautify the site and increase the user experience without coding.

2) Web developers are generally more expensive than web designers

The cost of hiring a web developer tends to be higher than the cost of hiring a web designer. As per ZipRecruiter, the average rate for web developers is $36/hr. while the average rate for web designers is $29/hour. The first reason for this discrepancy is likely to supply and demand—there are more web designers than web developers, and coding in general is an extremely sought-after skill. As coding becomes more ubiquitous among the talent pool the discrepancy between rates decreases. Whenever it comes to expertise, whether hiring developers or designers you are paying for the experience.

3) Web designer vs. web developer: What lies in the future

As we have a tendency to improve and refine the tools we use to accomplish work, the actual work we do changes, too. So web designers and web developers will surely be doing totally different jobs 10 years from now. Even the skills required of a web designer have evolved quickly over the last decade: from being mostly focused on visual elements (typography, color schemes, graphic design, etc.) to a lot of a functional and holistic focus (usability, information architecture, research, etc.) that ties a larger experience together. And it stands to reason that these job titles might one day become a hybridized version of both, with overlapping skills.

In fact, some web designers and web developers are already enjoying a career doing both. Sacha Greif, creator of Sidebar.io, shares insights from his own experience or expertise as both a developer and designer in Episode 40 of the podcast UI Breakfast. Anastasia Kas, another successful designer/developer, also noted that “hybrid jobs are on the rise” in her article Being a web designer& web developer hybrid in 2019.

There are several tasks which will overlap or be done by either a designer or a developer using no-code tools like Web flow:

• Scoping out a project
• Fixing routine bugs rapidly
• Updating static content
• Linking low-level dynamic content together

And what if, eventually, the roles of web designers and web developers converge, and we end up with a hybrid role of “builders”? different disciplines might then be brought to the forefront of projects. For instance, a telepsychiatry app could have a psychiatrist in charge of the build, with builders supporting the plan. Or an economist professional could lead the development of a lending product with the help of builders.

As no-code technology evolves, so can several professions. untechnical users are able to do self-service tasks that previously required specialists. Creating digital experiences can only continue to get easier, which is why curiosity and adaptability will continue to be distinctive skills among professionals in all fields. And in such an environment, web designers will have to evolve as well.