People outside of the industry often believe web design and web development are just different ways of referring to the same thing. However, there are differences that are important to know when building or updating a website.

If you are a business owner looking to start a website or build an app, then the distinction between a designer and a developer will be important.

Web designer vs web developer - Who is who?

The first thing to understand is web designers and web developers work together toward the same goal. The intention of both is to make attractive websites that perform well. However, they both play different roles in the process, though you will find the occasional professional who is highly skilled in both.

The simple distinction between the two is that a designer crafts the experience the site is going to provide and the developer is the person who puts it all together to make the vision of the developer a reality.

Web design - A closer look

A web designer's job is to take the vision and the goals of the client and to plan a site that will fulfill that vision and achieve those goals.

The designer will work on things like color schemes, different visual elements, and the types of content that will be on the site. They will develop a layout for the site and its pages, and will make decisions on the different types of functions that need to be available. They also design how visitors will interact with these functions.

Essentially, the designer comes up with the ideas of what the user will see and experience when they come to the site.

What exactly is a web developer?

The web developer is the professional with the technical expertise to actually build the site and make it work. They understand the various coding languages (JavaScript, HTML, CSS, etc.) and they know how to use them to make a functional website.

When it comes to building a website or an app, the web developer is the professional that actually puts the components together and write the code.

Is it better to work with a web designer or web developer?

If you are looking to build a new website or to make some updates to an old one, then you are probably going to need the services of at least one of these types of professionals.

The factors which decide the need for a developer or a designer are going to be decided by the goals of your project.

If you are looking to add new features or to integrate your site with other applications, then the skills of a developer will be needed. We recommend that you hire a developer instead of DIY-ing it to ensure that the new features can be added efficiently. If you want to create a more engaging and unique user experience, you may also look into some custom front-end development services.

In many cases, outsourcing or hiring React developers can be a cost-effective and efficient way to access the skills you need for your project. Outsourcing allows you to tap into a global talent pool, ensuring you find experts specializing in the technologies and services required to bring your vision to life.

All of that being said, most projects will require the skills of both. A successful website needs to be well designed to be appealing and user-friendly on the front end, and the design concepts will need the technical support of a professional who understands how to program functionality in the back end.

Finding the right professional to do the job can be difficult, and in many cases, you are going to need two or more professionals working in collaboration with each other. If that's the case you can always use online collaboration tools to collaborate with your professional developer and designer.

Before you search for a freelance web design professional to work on your project, you want to make sure that you have a clear understanding of what you need and the type of professional that has the right skills to help you achieve your goals.

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Written by Jessica Walrack on Monday, April 4, 2016

Jessica Walrack is a professional freelance writer with a background in sales and marketing. After 7 years in the corporate world, she stepped into the online sphere and has now been freelancing for 4 years. She specializes in helping businesses to create a stellar online experience for their audience in order to build industry authority and increase profitability. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys traveling all over the world with her family.