Despite referring to two different things, the terms web design and web development are often used interchangeably by both consumers and companies alike. However, both web design and development are fundamental aspects of the overall website building process and any professional, reputable web company should be offering their clients a combination of the two.

Simply put, web design mainly focuses on the overall aesthetics of a website while development is the process of turning visual elements and designs into a fully-functional website. To give you a better idea of what each involves, we’ve outlined a basic description of what web designers and developers do below.

Web Design

Web designers are responsible for designing a website’s visual elements. A professional web designer should be capable of designing a website interface that’s visually appealing and lends itself to functionality. As such, their role transcends simply making a site look pretty and has a tremendous influence on a site’s overall user experience; meaning designers will typically spend a considerable amount of time researching the client’s particular industry, as well as their target audience’s needs and expectations, to ensure that the end result looks good and keeps clients engaged.

Web designers are required to carry out all of the above and more while ensuring that any design decisions they make won’t hinder the developer’s work — it’s no easy feat! They achieve this through a careful combination of industry knowledge, design expertise, and basic web design principles, resulting in a website that’s both aesthetically pleasing and able to fulfill the client’s intended purpose.

Web Developers

Web developers, on the other hand, are responsible for developing the code that essentially allows a site to function the way we see it. In other words, they convert mockups and designs produced by web designers to code and add in any other extra bits needed for the site to work the way it’s intended to. Because of the nature of their role, web developers often work alongside web designers throughout the overall process and constantly assess and advise on whether any designs can realistically be programmed.

Once a website’s design has been finalized and developers are satisfied that it can realistically and technically be converted to code, they’ll get to work putting the entire site together. The approach a web developer takes depends on many factors and they’ll generally opt for the best approach that fulfills functionality and client requirements while taking into account design and budget limitations.

Parting Words

By now you’ve hopefully understood the basic differences surrounding web design and development and can make a more informed decision when creating or revamping your website. If you’re looking to make things even easier, consider engaging a professional web company.  Web companies like Begin with B typically employ a team of both designers and developers to streamline the website creation process and deliver the best results possible. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our Calgary web design and development services.