Web Designer vs Web Developer

You’ve just created your very first website, congratulations! You were probably very excited until you realized it looked super basic and every time you click on the “Contact” tab you get a 404 error. You’re in luck, because there are professionals that can help you create the website of your dreams. Now your only problem is figuring out who to hire: a web designer or web developer.

What Are Web Designers?

Web designers are similar to interior decorators; they make everything look nice but don’t actually change the structure. They are a necessity for anyone looking to have a professional website with no web design experience. Web designers can also brand your site so it’s more noticeable that it is YOUR website and not like anyone else’s.

Web designers are also great for UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface). This is extremely important because this is what attracts people to your website or application and it’s what leaves a lasting impression on the audience. If you have a website that isn’t user-friendly, chances are your retention rate will decrease because the site is difficult to use and isn’t attractive to the visitor.

What Are Web Developers?

Web developers are more like carpenters; they build the foundation and security of the structure and are concerned more about functionality than looks. You can’t have a high functioning website without working with a web developer first. Web developers use javascript, HTML, and other coding languages to create things your audience will see like buttons and things they won’t see like fixing errors and bugs. Ultimately, web development comes down to two specific areas: front-end development and back-end development.

Front-end development is loosely related to web design in the way that front-end developers use their coding skills to enhance the usability of the website. They create the visible and interactive components on the website for visitors to utilize. These interactive devices are meant to enhance the performance of your website and its ease of use for the visitors.

Back-end developers deal with the nitty gritty aspects of the website that are extremely important, but nobody will ever see. Without back-end developers, websites would be subject to hackers and viruses that would attack and ultimately destroy the website as a whole. This is why they are so necessary to have because fixing bugs in the website adds extra security that is needed to keep your website running properly.

Which Do You Need?

Since web designers and web developers are two completely separate entities that specialize in different areas of creating a website, it is relatively simple to figure out which one you are in need of for your website. If your website runs perfectly at a high speed with no glitches but it looks like a third grader designed it, then you are going to want to search for some web designers. If your site looks professional but doesn’t operate on those same standards, then you’ll want a web developer. There’s no reason to feel ashamed to hire a professional to help you and your website. Not everybody is an artist and not everybody knows how to type code, so it’s best to leave it to the experts and not try to do it yourself unless you know what you’re doing.