In this article, we’ll explore the differences between web design vs web development and what you may need for your next website project.

We’ll also discuss the web designer and web developer roles within an agency and the benefits of working with one.

What is Web Design?

Web design encompasses everything that you see on a website, including its visual aesthetics and the overall usability.

This is also known as user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. A visual designer plays a crucial role in web design by creating efficient, user friendly and aesthetically pleasing websites and interfaces.

Key aspects of web design include wireframes, mock ups, branding, colour palettes, typography, layout/format and graphic design.

Many web designers are able to use HTML and CSS, as it helps with their designs and can allow them to bring a mock up to life when necessary.

Web designers often work with platforms like WordPress or Shopify to create websites for their clients.

These content management systems (CMS) allow them to create websites without writing a single line of code, while also enabling clients to manage their websites easily.

Web Design Fundamentals

Web design fundamentals are the building blocks of creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website. These fundamentals include:

  • Color Theory: Understanding how to choose colors that complement each other and evoke the desired emotions is crucial. A web designer must know how to use colour to create harmony and balance, ensuring that the website’s color palette aligns with the brand’s identity and message.
  • Typography: Selecting fonts that are easy to read and consistent with the website’s brand is another essential aspect. Good typography enhances readability and helps convey the right tone and personality of the website. A web designer must be adept at choosing and pairing fonts that enhance the overall design.
  • Composition: Arranging visual elements in a way that creates a clear hierarchy and guides the user’s attention is key to effective web design. Composition involves the strategic placement of elements like images, text and buttons to create a cohesive and engaging layout.
  • User Experience (UX) Design: Creating a website that is easy to navigate and provides a positive experience for the user is the essence of UX design. A web designer must consider the user’s journey, ensuring that the website is intuitive and meets the user’s needs.
  • User Interface (UI) Design: Designing the visual elements of a website such as buttons, forms and menus, falls under UI design. A web designer creates these elements to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, enhancing the overall user experience.

A web designer must have a strong understanding of these fundamentals to create a website that is both visually appealing and functional.

What is Web Development?

Web development involves every line of code that makes a website work, from the front end design code (HTML/CSS) to the back-end server code (PHP/Java).

The front end code is responsible for displaying the website to the user; a designer creates the mock-ups, and a front end developer makes it work on a website.

Back end code is in charge of managing the database and serving that data to be displayed on the front end.

Front end web developers rarely create mock-ups or choose color palettes, as these are provided by the web designer. It’s a developer’s job to bring those mock-ups and designs to life.

Website Strategy Meeting

Job Descriptions

A web designer and a web developer are two distinct roles that work together to create a website.

Here are their job descriptions:

Web Designer

  • Responsible for creating the visual design and user experience of a website.
  • Creates wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.
  • Works closely with the web developer to ensure the design is implemented correctly.
  • Must have a strong understanding of visual design principles, user experience and user interface design.

Web Developer

  • Responsible for building the functionality of a website.
  • Writes code in programming languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
  • Works closely with the web designer to ensure the design is implemented correctly.
  • Must have a strong understanding of programming languages, database management, and web development frameworks.

Both roles are essential in the process of creating websites that are both beautiful and functional.

Career Paths and Salaries

Both web designers and web developers have a wide range of career paths and salaries. Here are some examples:

Web Designer:

  • Junior web designer: $40,000 – $60,000 per year.
  • Senior web designer: $80,000 – $110,000 per year.
  • Creative director: $120,000 – $150,000 per year.

Web Developer:

  • Junior web developer: $50,000 – $70,000 per year.
  • Senior web developer: $90,000 – $120,000 per year.
  • Technical lead: $140,000 – $160,000 per year.

The career paths for web designers and web developers offer opportunities for growth and advancement.

As professionals gain experience and expertise, they can move into higher level positions with increased responsibilities and higher salaries.

The Future of Web Design & Web Development

The future of web design and web development is exciting and rapidly evolving.

Here are some trends to watch:

  • Artificial Intelligence: AI will play a larger role in web design and development, with tools that can automate tasks and improve user experience. AI can help in creating personalised content, optimising design elements and even generating code.
  • Virtual Reality: VR will become more prevalent in web design and development, with experiences that immerse users in a virtual world. This technology will open up new possibilities for creating interactive and engaging websites.
  • Accessibility: Accessibility will become a top priority in web design and development, with a focus on creating websites that are usable by everyone. This includes designing for users with disabilities and ensuring that websites meet accessibility standards.
  • Web Assembly: Web Assembly will become a popular choice for web development, with its ability to run code in web browsers at near-native speeds. This technology will enable more complex and performance-intensive applications to be built for the web.

These advancements will continue to shape the way we create and experience websites, making the field an exciting place to be.

Freelancer vs Web Design Agency

There is a lot of crossover between web designers, front end developers and back end developers.

It’s common to find an individual who claims to cover all three areas, but within a team you’ll often find people specialising in each specific area.

At White Peak Digital, for example, our web design projects include a project manager, graphic designer, web designer, front end developer and a back end developer.

Freelancers might use a website builder to create websites efficiently without extensive coding knowledge.

This can scale all the way down to simply a project manager and a web designer, depending on a project’s specific needs.

A project manager works closely with the client and the rest of the team throughout development, a graphic designer focuses on branding and logo design, the web designer puts together website wireframes and mock-ups, the front end developer implements those designs on the website and the back end developer makes everything work behind the scenes.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the key differences between web design and web development is essential when planning your next website project.

While web designers focus on creating visually appealing, user friendly layouts, web developers handle the technical aspects to ensure a website functions seamlessly.

Both roles are crucial, and a well-coordinated collaboration between these experts can result in a polished and effective website.

As the field of web design and development continues to evolve with advancements like AI, virtual reality and increased accessibility standards, businesses have more opportunities than ever to create dynamic, engaging and inclusive online experiences.

Whether you choose to work with a freelancer or a full-service web design agency, ensure they align with your specific needs and goals.

If you’re looking for a dedicated team of professionals to bring your vision to life, reach out to our Brisbane web design team today.

We’re here to help you create a website that stands out, drives engagement, and grows your business!

To your success,
Jackson