There are slight differences between web design and web development. These two terms are often used interchangeably but they are vastly different in terms of skills, responsibilities, and the tools used.
Regardless of their differences, web design and web development are still two integral parts of creating a website. This means that a web designer and a web developer work hand in hand to carry out a project.
Some of the key differences between web design and web development include:
Skill Description
Firstly, Web design refers to the visual and aesthetic aspects of creating a website. Furthermore, it involves the layout, color scheme, typography, and overall look and feel of the website. Wen designers apply specific wen design principles. Principles such as user experience (UX) and responsive design ensure that the website is easy to navigate and looks great on any device.
On the other hand, Web development is the process of building and maintaining a website. This is carried out using different programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These programming languages bring the website design to life. Besides these programming languages ensure the effective functioning of the website. A web developer carries out the coding and programming of a website. Additionally, he ensures that the website functions properly.
Skills Needed
Another major difference between web design and web development is the skillset needed. The skills required for web design and web development are quite different.
As explained earlier, web designers are more concerned with the visual aspects of the website. This means they have a strong understanding of design principles and user experience (UX). Moreover, a web designer must possess an array of creative, graphic, and technical skills.
However, web developers, on the other hand, are more focused on the technical aspects of building a website. Therefore they have a proper understanding of programming languages and web development frameworks.
Tools Needed
Web designers make use of several tools to carry out their work. However, web designers mostly use graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create web designs. They use this software to create mockups and wireframes, which are then used to guide the development process.
Meanwhile, web developers use code editors such as Visual Studio Code and Atom. These tools are used to code and program the functionality of a website. Additionally, they use tools such as version control systems (VCS) to manage the code and track changes.
In conclusion, web designers often have an artistic background and an eye for detail, while web developers often have a background in computer science or engineering.
However, note that these two skills work hand in hand in creating a successful website. Web design focuses on the visual aspect of creating a website, while web development focuses on the technical aspects.