Web design and development are often confused with each other, although they could not be more different. Like two wheels of a cycle, one cannot work without the other.
In a nutshell, web design refers to the visual presentation and usability of a website. On the other hand, web development is precisely what makes the design a functional and working website. Though design and development go hand-in-hand, the skills required for both are quite different. Let’s have a look at the first step of the ride!
Web Design:
Designers usually work closely with clients to understand their business goals, vision, and ideas regarding the project. After establishing a firm foundation on the same, they start by sketching out a few wireframes and various mood boards and palettes to nail the aesthetic portion (the look and feel) with a smooth user experience.
Depending on the user requirements, designers shuffle between various software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, or Sketch. They craft designs based on the following terms:
Hierarchy:
Deciding what is key and what is optional information is a skill many website designers have mastered. Highlighting important parts like headings and buttons is necessary to get the targeted audience to take action and move down the conversion funnel.
Using typography and content balance, hierarchy is achieved according to the weightage of the importance of information.
Color Balance and Contrast:
As clichéd as it sounds, balancing colors is key to keeping the user scrolling down the website. When the aesthetics are pleasing, it is easier to process information for a user. Choose an appropriate color palette that aligns with your brand and industry.
Always keep dark mode in mind while getting your website made, so that the website does not become inoperable due to color camouflage while toggling between black and white.
Content:
Creating excitement and intrigue through text and images is the foremost requirement to tick for a good web design. Nowadays, a website is the first interaction between a business and a user. So, create a website to sell your business, NOT to just provide “quick info about it”. Using the right titles, compelling imagery and strong Call-to-Actions is what makes a good website great!
Call-to-Action:
What if you told your potential customer all about your product but did not tell them how to buy it? So even if they had a slight intention of buying, they won’t just because they don’t know how! That’s how you waste a ton of resources and time on your website if you fail to establish strong call-to-action, aka CTAs. Incorporating the right CTAs is essential to turn the general audience into strong leads.
Web Development:
In layman’s terms, website development is essential “coding”. Working with different languages, platforms, and frameworks such as CSS, HTML, PHP, WordPress, and so on, the developers build dynamic websites from static web designs by utilizing interactive elements such as buttons, links, scrolls, sliders, and many more.
Developers are responsible for making your website secure, seamlessly functional, user-oriented, and decreasing loading time.
Development is further divided into two: Front-end and Back-end development. What are these terms you may ask, so let us give you a brief!
Front-end Development:
Often referred to as client-side development, this sector is responsible for all things users can see such as client lead forms, CTAs, and more. Working with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, front-end developers ensure smooth user experience and navigation.
Back-end Development:
As the name goes, back-end development is all about coding that is not visible to the user. It is responsible for communicating database information to the browsers. It involves programming done with complex languages such as C#, Java, and SQL. The developers run intense tests and resolve bugs to support a smoother experience for website visitors.
Full-Stack Development:
This refers to the combination of the client (front-end development) and server (back-end development). A full-stack developer can handle the programming of the browser, server, and database.
Now that you have a vague idea about Web design and web development, we hope you have some clarity about which department you should approach for your tasks.
Are you looking for Web Design & Development Agency in the US?
Webforest is a thriving digital agency offering quality services of Web Design and Development for websites, applications, and software. Having an international clientele, we house a talented team of skilled designers and experienced developers to help our clients create digital products with smart strategies and cutting-edge technology.
We do not just work to satisfy our clients; we work to help them achieve their goals. Developing a relationship beyond the delivery timeline with our clients is our goal.
With smart-work ethics and creativity as our roots, we have developed a fool-proof approach that allows us to think out-of-the-box, yet never lose sight of the end-goal – client satisfaction, and ground-breaking result!
Want to know more? Visit our website now! Webforest
Here is a small table to help you differentiate which task falls under which category: Website Design or Website Development!
| Web Pages designing | Website Design |
| Images and vectors editing | Website Design |
| Functionality of Websites | Website Development |
| Branding | Website Design |
| Resolve hosting/ server issues | Website Development |
| Build a new contact/lead form | Website Development |
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