What’s the Difference Between a Web Developer and a Web Designer?
In the cultural lexicon, people tend to use the terms “web designer” and “web developer” fairly interchangeably, despite the fact that they’re two different kinds of jobs. Logically, web designers work on website design, and web developers do web development, but it’s obviously a little bit more complicated than that. Here’s some handy info to help you understand their differences.
Web Developers.
Let’s speak metaphorically here for a second. If the Internet were a road, then your website would be the car. A web developer would be a mechanic who fine tunes your instruments, repairs broken equipment, and does standard maintenance to make sure it runs properly. Web development is the back-end of a website–it’s the coding that users will never actually see, but interact with on the page. They construct the site from the ground up, and know coding languages that are specific for the web like Javascript of CSS.
Web Designers.
Returning to our vehicle metaphor, a web designer would be your custom detailer. You might scoff, wondering who needs to worry about aesthetics so long as the car runs properly, but the answer is
Much of a web designer’s job is creative and intuitive. People in this field are trained in graphic design, visual concepts, color theory, typography, spacial relationships, and user experience. These are all subtle, but vital, factors that can help drive lead conversion.
Understanding the differences between a web designer and a web developer can help you decide whom you truly need to hire. Most professionals tend to be a mix between the two, but lean more towards one end of the spectrum. Depending on the project you have in mind, you may need a web developer more than a web designer, and vice-versa. Knowing the differences can help your project succeed. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. Learn more about this topic here: www.globi.ca
