In this article, we are going to briefly discuss what a web designer is and isn't, as well as analyze the overlap between web design and web development. For those interested in learning about what a web developer is, please check out my other article by clicking here.
Definition
Saying that a web designer is someone who designs websites isn't incorrect, but it also doesn't provide the full picture. A web designer is someone who designs websites with knowledge of how the designs will work in the browser. And by design, we are referring specifically to the styling or graphic elements of the web page. Web designers can’t just design something that looks good; they have to design around the limitations surrounding the browser and the device the browser is on. For example, a web designer understands how certain media types, like image and video, can affect website performance. They also understand how to create a dynamic design that can be easily adjusted to accommodate a plethora of different screen sizes. Because of this, a graphic designer isn’t automatically a web designer by default.
Web Design vs Web Development
Can a web designer also be considered a web developer, and vice versa? Not necessarily. Firstly, web designers may or may not have coding skills, which are required in order for one to be considered a web developer. Secondly, not all web developers deal with the graphical design elements of a web page, and the ones that do have varying levels of involvement in that design process. Although web designers aren’t expected to code along with the developer, it certainly will make life easier for both parties if they have at least a basic understanding of that coding knowledge. In short, only if a web designer can comfortably code their own designs and do so on a regular basis can they also be considered a web developer.
This difference between web designer and web developer is noteworthy because it is easy for those outside of the industry to conflate the two terms together.
What a Web Designer Isn’t
It’s not uncommon to find people who earn a living making websites through the use of website builders. While those with a design background certainly make better-looking websites than those without such background, they still can’t take on the title of web designer due to a lack of the aforementioned skill set. They may choose to say that they have “insert website builder platform here” design skills, which is perfectly fine.
Conclusion
I hoped this article helped shed some light on what a web designer is and isn’t. If you would like to consult a professional web designer and developer, please contact me by using any of the links provided below. Thank you.
