Let’s start with an overview of web design vs. web development.

Web design definition

Web design focuses on creating different graphical elements for online use. Designers may create infographics, ads, logos…but a large focus — and the focus of this video — is on the visual look and feel of a website. 

Some things web designers generally do are:

• Wireframe design prototypes
• Create homepages, inner pages, and landing pages
• Work with developers and project managers to build and redesign websites

When they work on websites, designers typically focus on how they can create a good user experience (UX) for site visitors.

They may use tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to create the elements that will make up your site. UX design is an emerging form of web design that’s all about making sure everything you create has the user in mind. UX designers make sure websites are designed for different devices, and the layout is practical and easy to follow. 

Designers may have some knowledge of code, such as HTML and CSS, but a lot of their work focuses on a website’s appearance.

Web development definition

So while web designers focus on the visuals of a website, web developers work on bringing those visuals to life. 

They’ll use different programming languages, like HTML, PHP, and Java, to develop a website’s core functionality. Functionality might be things like what happens when someone clicks a button or how the main navigation loads when a user scrolls or clicks on it. A developer may work with a content management system (CMS) to get your website online and available to users. Some common systems include:

• WordPress
• Magento
• Joomla
• Drupal

A good portion of a web developer’s work is also focused on maintaining websites, so doing things like upgrading the CMS, managing the security, and offering web support for any issues that arise. If you want to improve your website, you should think of web design and development as two essential areas that work together. It’s not designer vs. developer in most cases. You need both to know how to design a website and have a modern website that works well for users.