Did you know that there is actually a difference between web design and web development? Most of the times, people go online to look for either web design services or web development services not knowing that the two are different. However, most of the times, you will find that a company offering website design would most probably also offer web development services.
Website Design and Website Development are terms that are normally used interchangeably, especially for the majority who are not in the web field. Web design is a more popular term.
Both website design and development are fundamental aspects of building a website, but are technically different. Skills required for design are fundamentally different from the skills required for development. You might get a web design with pretty good design skills, but has no experience in the development bit of website building. A few will have both technical skills.
When you want to hire a professional to build for you a website, it is important that you know the difference between these two terms. This article will help you understand the difference between web design and web development so that you can make an informed decision when looking to hire a company or individual to build for you your website.
What is Web Design?
Web design can be defined as a process that uses an array of skill sets to create a web pages that can be accessed by end users via web browsers. The main intention is to organize and present content to provide the end users with information.
Many times, people usually perceive the design aspect of a website as the visual bit. However, web design can also include the usability of the website, navigation logic, layout of the site among other aspects.
Elements of Website Design
There are some visual elements, that to a great extent, define website design. You can assess a website’s design considering these visual aspects:
Layout: This is basically the arrangement of text, graphics and other types of content on the website. The layout organizes your content so that the end user can easily find any information they may need from the website. A good layout will ensure that consistency and integrity is maintained site wide.
Content: This is text on the website that provides information to the end user. This is usually one of the most important bits of the website as the website directly communicates with the end user. Therefore, much effort must be put in content to ensure that the message you put across is accurate. This content always plays a great role when it comes to search engine optimization. When search engines crawl a particular website, it is content on the website that greatly determines how to rank it in search engine results.
Graphics: This is the graphical aspect of the website that can include icons, the company/organization logo, images and other graphical representations on the website. A good website design ensures that graphics are strategically placed within the design. It should also ensure that there is moderate use of graphics as they affect other aspects of the design such as loading time and page speeds.
Color: The choice of color would greatly depend on the brand colors and the type of target market. Most designers would consider the psychology of colors when designing, but a number often prefer to keep it simple when it comes to colors on the website.
Typography: This is the use of particular fonts in the design. A visually appealing font enhances the look and feel of the website. However, web browsers do not read all kinds of fonts and therefore designers are limited to some fonts considered to be web-safe.
Skill sets required to be a good web designer
There are different skills that you need to acquire if you want to be a good website designer. These design skills include:
- HTML and CSS
- Using Photoshop, Illustrator or other equal design software
- Some knowledge in programming languages such as PHP, Java, ASP etc.
- Content Copywriting
- Search Engine Optimization
With these skills, you should be all set to design websites for your clients. Other additional skills you may require include business skills and project management. You should ensure that you understand the entire process that is design and development.
What is Web Development?
Web development is a broad term and you can also refer to it as web programming. This is the development of web applications that can be hosted over the internet or intranet. Website development involves the back-end or what is normally called the server-side functioning of a website.
The backend of a website can be viewed as the ‘engine’ of the website. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes for a website to be presented to the user in the frontend. There is normally a database in the backend that communicates with the frontend design to present information to the end user.
Skill sets required to be a good website developer
Depending on your proficiency, there is a range of skills you can use to develop a website. While it is important to have diverse skills when it comes to development, you can choose to pick a few skills and perfect them. Below are some of the web developing skill set you might require to be a good web developer.
- Ruby on Rails
- MYSQL and other database management systems etc
Do you want to be a web developer? It is not as complicated as you may think. There is so much information online that can help you acquire these skills. With a little effort and commitment, you can acquire these web development skills. You can also choose to enroll in a good technology college that teaches any of these skills.
Looking for Web Design Services in Kenya
Now that you understand the difference between web design and web development, you are in a better position when looking for someone to build your website. Most clients leave the technical aspect to the developers and worry more about functionality and what the clients actually see.
What is the best experience you want with your website? When hiring a company or individual to design or develop a website for you, you should ensure that it meets the below criteria.
#1 Simple to Navigate
Make sure that the website is simple to use and users can easily navigate the website to access information. Menus should be easily accessible and proper use of call to actions within the website. The general website architecture should be simple to navigate.
#2 Compatible across browsers and devices
People access websites using different browsers or devices. Therefore, it is important that your website is compatible with different browsers. Many people use different mobile devices to access websites. The website must therefore be responsive. This means that the site adapts to different mobile devices and therefore users have a great experience no matter the type of device they use.
#3 Moderate use of multimedia
Multimedia can be used to enhance the design. Multimedia such as video and audio usually help present information in a manner that users can easily understand. However, designers need to be careful with the use of multimedia. Some designers usually get carried away and overuse multimedia.
#4 Interactive design
Make sure that the website is interactive and makes proper use of different call to actions across the website. You can choose to have a blog within the website and allow users to post comments on the articles. You can also have polls within the website or newsletter sign ups.
#5 Use of technology
Technology is dynamic and so should your website be. Make sure that the developers or designers use the latest technology and the design follows the latest web design trends in the market.
The Thin Line Between Website Development and Design
Website design and development are definitely two different aspects. However, the line is definitely thin. Many times, clients searching for web design services do not care much about these two aspects and their fundamental difference.
Many companies you will find have both web developers who handle the backend and web designers who handle the frontend. Some individuals you will find have both design and development skills. However, we hope this article has cleared the difference between these two important aspects and what you are to expect as a client.
Do you now see the difference between web design and web development? Leave your comment below so that we can be able to make it clearer for other readers.