Web Design And Development: The Basic Introduction
Learn how a background in software engineering can help you prepare for either web design or web development careers
More and more people are connecting to the internet as advances in technology, and the spread of Wi-Fi makes it more convenient than ever before. According to 2017 data compiled by the World Bank, the percentage of people using the internet worldwide has increased by more than 100% between 2008 and 2018.
This includes 87% of the population of the United States. As the popularity of portable electronic gadgets like tablets and smartphones continues to rise, individuals can stay connected whenever and wherever they choose.
It’s no surprise that having a solid online presence is more vital than ever for businesses of all kinds. Having a website for your company not only makes it easier for customers to locate you but also provides you with a low-cost, always-on advertising platform.
It’s helpful for new clients to know a business’s operating hours and payment options ahead of time. Businesses now have access to clients all around the globe via internet retail. In the end, a company’s internet presence helps them reach a wider audience and get more customers.
However, to be successful, a website must have both good visual design and good technological development. A website’s design should be pleasing to the eye and straightforward to keep visitors engaged. The onus of ensuring this is squarely on the shoulders of whoever is doing the designing and building of the website. Explore the parallels and distinctions between web design and web development, and find out how a background in software engineering may pave the way for a successful career in either profession.
Defining Web Design vs Web Development
Creating an attractive and easily navigable user interface is a primary goal of web design. The job of a web designer is to create a website that is simple to navigate and easy on the eyes so that consumers feel comfortable making purchases. Designers who focus on the user’s perspective are frequently referred to as UX designers.
The primary emphasis of web development is the underlying code that allows a website to function. A web designer may create a button, but a web developer is responsible for making sure it does anything useful when it’s clicked. It’s possible for web developers to specialize in either the front end (the part of the site the user sees) or the back end (the part of the site responsible for the site’s functionality), or both.
A front-end developer, for instance, may use cascading style sheets (CSS) to design the look and feel of a website’s front page, while a back-end developer would construct the code that links an online store’s shopping cart to a reliable payment gateway.
Web Design vs. Web Development: Similarities
If a business wants to succeed in today’s digital marketplace, it has to prioritize web design and development. These two positions are interdependent and are sometimes combined into one individual’s job description. There are varying degrees of programming expertise needed by web designers and developers.
To identify the optimal design and functionality, they will need extensive testing, which requires excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. Finally, it’s important for web designers and developers to keep up with industry developments like new software and standards.
When carried out properly, design and development provide an integrated, technology-driven idea that connects to and advances a company’s vision, hence facilitating the company’s ability to interact with more customers.
Web Design vs Web Development: Differences
Web designers and developers may share specific abilities, yet each role requires expertise in its unique areas. Because of the importance placed on visual appeal, designers working in the field of web development need to have a deeper understanding of what factors contribute to a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
Adobe Dreamweaver, JavaScript, and scripting frameworks are all tools designers need to know how to use to create multi-featured front-end apps. In addition, they need to ensure that everything they develop is consistent with the company’s brand, including logos and colour palettes.
While web designers establish the visual guidelines for a website, web developers are responsible for constructing the site’s functionality. They use their expert programming talents to bring the web designer’s idea to life.
Web developers need to be fluent in a wider variety of programming languages and software frameworks, including Structured Query Language (SQL), Python, Java server development, machine learning, the creation of application programming interfaces (APIs) for interacting with objects, database tools, server architecture, and agile systems analysis.
Prospects for Web Designers and Developers
Globally, more people are using the Internet, and more people are using mobile websites in particular, as devices become cheaper and more widely available. From 2016 to 2022, smartphone traffic is expected to increase by a factor of 10, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.
This means that the need for professional web designers and developers to create mobile-friendly websites will only grow. Sites optimized for mobile devices are already given preference in search results by Google and other search engines. Staying ahead of the competition requires that businesses make an effort to adopt and adapt to new forms of online interaction.
Professionals skilled in web design and development will have no shortage of job openings in the years to come. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13% growth in web development positions between 2018 and 2028, which is substantially faster than the average for all occupations. These are high-paying fields of work as well.
As of September 2019, PayScale reports that the typical annual compensation for a web designer is approximately $50,000, while the median annual salary for a web developer is around $59,000.
Our newfound knowledge of the distinction between web design and web development has made it evident that both play crucial roles in custom website development. In conclusion, it is essential for web designers to be familiar with design concepts and to be capable of coming up with original layouts, while web developers should place a greater emphasis on logic-based thinking and be familiar with code and the workings of technology.
