Web Design versus Web Development
Confused with web design and web development? Here’s the complete comparison between the two.
What Is Web Design?
Web design is everything that involves the website’s usability and visual aesthetics. In other terms, the layout, the way the information is presented and the colours used and everything else related to the visual aspects of the UI/UX (user interface and user experience).
Some common tools and skills web designers use are:
- Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator or other design software
- Branding
- Colour palettes
- Graphic design
- Layout design
- Logo design
- Typography
- Wireframes, mock-ups, and storyboards
Web design is about what the user actually sees on their computer screen or mobile device. With the use of color, images, typography and layout, they bring a digital experience to life.
A great understanding of how responsiveness works on various screen sizes leads to a useable design. And although not a requirement, if web designers are familiar with coding languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, it would help them create a mock-up that would fine-tune the UI/UX of an app. You can also read a previous article I wrote on how to choose a designer for your team.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is everything that involves the website’s functionality. It is categorized into two categories—front-end and back-end. The front-end or client-side is the code done on how the website will actually display the mockup made by the web designer. The back-end or server-side is done for managing data within the database and doing logical functionalities on the website.
Some common tools and skills web developers use are:
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and SQL
- LESS or SASS
- Frameworks and libraries
- Git and GitHub
The front-end developer’s job tends to overlap with a web designer’s job. They don’t usually create mock-ups, select the color palette, typography and layout—these are usually provided by the designer. The developer’s job is to code and bring those mock-ups to life. In order to understand what the designer wants, it is essential for a developer to have some knowledge in UI/UX design. In doing so, the developer will be able to choose the right technology to use to deliver the desired look, feel and experience in the final product.
What is a hybrid?
Most commonly called as the “unicorn”, the designer/developer hybrid can do everything. The hybrid can take your project from conceptualizing through the use of wireframes and mockups to giving the website life by developing the actual site all by themselves.
It’s a good thing to keep in mind to rely on hybrids for small projects, where it’s doable for one or two people to handle both front-end and back-end. For larger projects, clearly defined roles are required for efficiency.
Have any questions? Leave a comment below. 🙂
