Which one would be a better fit for you, a web designer or a web developer? Let’s figure it out. Web development and web designing are great careers to pursue, but when you start, you need to figure out where you fit. Because there are a lot of crossovers between the two fields; so, in this blog, we will specifically talk about the roles, tools and expectations of the two different kinds of areas and then which one is the best kind of fit for you.
Let’s first start by defining the two fields. We’ll start with web design.
What is web design?
Think of Web designing as decorating the interior of a building. It focuses on creating an appealing and engaging visual interface for the website, using colour schemes, typography, images, and other design elements to enhance the user experience. Just as the interior design of a building can influence how people feel and interact with the space, web design can impact how users perceive and interact with a website.
Website design provides visual aesthetics and usability for a website, including colour schemes, layouts, information flow, and anything else related to the visual aspects of the user interface and user experience.
The tools generally used by the designer are aesthetic tools like Photoshop or sketch interface design tools user experience tools. These tools affect the aesthetic of any design, whether print or web design.
While The web design process is more concerned with what the user sees on their computer screen or mobile device and less with how it all works beneath the surface.
They are often also familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Knowing the basics of these languages is very helpful when pitching ideas to the team or fine-tuning an app’s UI/UX. It helps design better mediums that make sense, like knowing what’s possible and what’s not possible.
A lot of web designers also use templating services like WordPress or Joomla! They allow them to build websites using themes and widgets without writing code.
What is web development?
Web development is like constructing a building. It involves planning, designing, creating a website’s structure, functionality, and features. Just as a building requires a solid foundation, framework, and various systems, a website also needs robust architecture, coding, and databases to function correctly. Web developers are responsible for all these aspects. They create all the code that makes a website tick.
Web development is generally divided into front-end and backend. Front-end code determines how designs, mocked up by a designer, will be displayed on the website. Backend or server-side code hosts data in databases and serves it to front-ends for display.
Backend developers
If we talk about backend developers, they typically handle business logic and data management. The job of these developers is to create APIs and routing that allow data to flow between the front end and the back end.
Backend developers use the following languages and tools:
- Server-side programming languages (e.g., PHP, Python, Java, C#)
- Rails, Symfony, and .NET are all server-side frameworks for developing websites.
- Database management systems (e.g., MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL)
- RESTful APIs.
Frontend developers
The front end is the user interface, which includes the buttons, images, and views you see on the screen. Front-end development involves creating those interactive interfaces. There are three main technologies that are used in front end development HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Both designing and developing goes hand in hand while designers are responsible for developing aesthetically pleasing mockups, Developers are responsible for bringing mockups to life. Nonetheless, it is important for developers to understand what the designer wants in terms of UI/UX design to choose the right technology to deliver the desired look , feel and experience. And the designers should know the basics of development because it is very helpful when pitching ideas to the team or fine-tuning an app’s UI/UX.
WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU?
If you’re trying to decide between pursuing web design or web development, here are a couple of opinions that will help you out.
Pay close attention to what you enjoy. If you enjoy expressing your problem-solving skills through visual modes like using different colors or typography, and you have an eye for photography, then web design may be the best fit for you.
On the other hand, if you are a puzzle enthusiast who likes to analyze things and understand how they work, then web development may be the better option. It’s important to note that both fields are closely related in the creative and tech worlds, so you have the flexibility to decide where you want to be all you must do is give it some time and pay attention to make makes you happier!