When it’s time to give your website a make-over, how can you tell whether you need a developer or a designer? Both terms are commonly used and this can lead to some puzzlement. Design is the name most commonly used by those in the industry but it covers a vast number of skills, only one of which is linked to visual elements. Here the aim is to clear up some confusion.
Web design
Elements of design refer to the front end of the site, the part that is seen by the visitor. It is the job of web designers to design how the site looks and how users can interact with it. Using the principles of design theory, professionals work to make the site look attractive and appealing. They are also working to create a site that is easy to navigate and use, offers intuitive elements to make using it an enjoyable experience. This is more than just aesthetics; the site should feel good too. For Web Design Doncaster, visit a site like https://inter-arc.net/inter-service/web-design-doncaster
Web development
There are two sides to web development – front-end and back-end. Sometimes the two overlap, but they have separate goals.
Those who work on the front-end will work on visual design, created by yourself or a designer and building team. Most sites will only need a simple front-end development completed. Sites that are larger and more complex will require back-end development as well. Back end is more advanced, requiring more complex programming and interaction on different pages of the site. Back end web developers concentrate on how the site functions and run for customers. This may involve coding for interacting with databases or building an e-commerce function that links to a payment processor, for example.
Why the confusion?
Sometimes the lines get blurred between the two professions. Some professionals will specialize in a very specific field while others offer a broader spectrum of both design and development. Many web industry workers will have knowledge of visual design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, but also know some code to create a simple page. Professional people with knowledge across the boundaries of design and development will have a set of skills that are valuable in the industry.
Cross-over knowledge is important as a designer who has an understanding of how web pages are built can make the page better and more intuitive. In return, a web developer who captures the basic design ideas and communication can make better decisions when it comes coding interaction, function and pages for their clients.
Knowing the expertise you need is important to find the right professional to work on your website. The skills you are looking for will also have an impact on the costs involved to work on your site. Generally, the cost for the front end and design work will be less for a smaller site than hiring a sophisticated back-end coder. Large projects that require teams of both designers and developers will cost much more.