Web design and web development: How to get it right?

There's a lot to learn when it comes to creating a website, and if you're new, the jargon in the field can be confusing or unclear to you. You need to find a reliable place to start studying web design and development. What is the difference between them, how do they work together and which one do you need to use for your website project. That's what we - Wecan Group will cover in this article!

What is web design?

• Web design is all the visual elements like colors, typography, images and navigational buttons related to a web page. But it's not just about good looks. Web design deals with the layout of a website, making sure it looks good on different screen sizes, keeping web navigation simple and easy, and ensuring usability. use of the website smoothly.
• The role of a web designer
• If you think of a web developer as an engineer who builds a house, a web designer is an architect or an interior designer. Web designers are considered creative artists for the website or application, they are responsible for assembling creative content that is brand, aesthetic and provides value to users.
• Web designer and web designer used to be a generic term for people designing websites. But in recent years, more specialized roles in web design have emerged. These roles are UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) designers.

UX design and UI design

• User experience (UX) refers to the journey and overall experience as a user explores a website. This experience can leave a positive or negative impression on the user and will sometimes affect your brand.
• UX designers focus on user behavior and feeling. They learn what keeps consumers engaged and smooth the customer journey so that consumers have a positive experience. UX designers rely heavily on in-depth market research and data analysis to figure out where visitors might need help and how to improve them. The main goal of a user experience designer is not only to meet the needs of the user, but to exceed their expectations.
• Keynest – a global company that helps Airbnb providers co-manage their rentals is an example of a simple and straightforward user journey. The company's goals are reflected directly on the website with its simple design and easy-to-follow steps.

Once your website's workflow is developed, it's time to find a user interface (UI) designer to complete the rendering. User interface designers will ensure that all visual elements such as colors, typography, buttons and icons are aesthetically pleasing, meaningful and work together.

Whether you hire a web designer or a UX/UI designer, you should always keep in mind what your needs and goals are. Because each role will bring a different value.

What is web development?

Web development is the creation of a brand new website and its ongoing operational maintenance. Like building a house, web development is where engineers come to lay the foundation and create a solid structure so you can start building. Usually, web development begins after the web design has been finalized.

The role of a web developer

• Web developers are professionals responsible for integrating coded content to make a website work. They are also responsible for keeping the site optimized, resolving bugs, and incorporating new features and technologies for a seamless user experience.
• In simpler terms, web developers focus on web functionality and structure to accomplish brand goals. Because this field is so broad, web developers will divide it into front-end web development and database web development (back-end).
• Front-end and back-end
• The front-end of a website refers to what users can directly see and interact with when they visit the website, that's why it is also known as word-of-mouth interaction. customer side. Not to be confused with web designers, user interface developers are concerned with the codes that create colors, images, text, and other visible elements. They make sure that the screens display and work as well as they were intended.

To build a website's user interface layers, front-end developers use the following programming languages:

• JavaScript
• React
• HTML & CSS

An impressively illustrated web design by hadynoody

• The back-end, on the other hand, is what keeps all the elements of the website running. It is sometimes called a server, where data and applications are stored. It handles any command or request made from the user interface.
• For example, when booking a hotel, the customer has access to the front-end of the website. Any data they enter regarding the reservation such as check-in date, personal information, room type and other requirements as well as confirmation or availability check, is processed in the back-end. .
• That said, back-end developers are responsible for troubleshooting, debugging, and developing the functionality of a website or application to make them perform better.

Some of the tools that back-end developers often use include:

• PHP
• Python
• Django

Sometimes, instead of hiring two partners with separate roles, you can hire a hybrid version called a full-stack developer (who can work on both front-end and back-end).

Full-stack developers demonstrate competence in using front-end and back-end web development programming languages and tools. Due to their expertise and wide range of skills, they can fulfill more requirements than hiring a front-end or back-end developer.

Remember that hiring a full-blown developer depends on the size of your project. If you are planning to create a website with many complex functions and require a lot of expertise, in this case it is best to seek help from a team of front-end and back-end developers end. Doing so ensures that they produce higher quality output.

Do you need a web developer or a web designer?

When do you need a web designer?

Statistics show that more than 90% of consumers have a first impression when visiting a brand's website. It only takes 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your brand, so having a good web design is crucial. But easier said than done.

In fact, many websites today still have cluttered layouts, low-resolution photos and videos, or are filled with irrelevant content. Other sites have high bounce rates when visitors leave too quickly because they can't find content that meets expectations.

Or because the website does not respond to the visitor's request. Over time, these can lead to low conversion rates (i.e. converting visitors into buyers). This is often a clue you may need to revisit the designs for your website to make tweaks or refresh the site.

Start with determining if you need help with user experience or UI design, or maybe you haven't dived into your areas of expertise yet and you can start that with a web designer.

Once you've decided, explore the web design portfolio and see if they match the aesthetic and quality of experience you want. Depending on the site has different needs, you may need from a web designer with a knack for designing portfolio websites or a designer with experience in e-commerce sites or magazine website.

The example above from The People vs. Coffee, a coffee shop in Australia, they have high quality photos of coffee beans and shop interiors with a focus on layout simplicity, all in one page.

There are also some fun elements incorporated into the site, such as coffee beans moving across the page background and an animated coffee truck passing across the page that add to the fun experience for users. use. Minimalist aesthetics, clear messaging and use of images combine to create a positive user experience and feeling, just like the relaxed and inviting feeling similar to that in a cozy coffee shop.

When do you need a web developer

Creating a website is not an overnight process. Aside from hiring a web developer to develop the website or edit the structural elements of the layout, there are still many things to consider such as potential attack risks, 404 errors, and website optimization.

Just like your business, websites need to go through some changes and are often subject to security threats by hackers, viruses, and malware. And even the big brands are no exception. Facebook made headlines when more than 200 million Facebook profiles were breached and sold for $600 each.

Besides security threats, new technologies are always emerging and consumer behaviors and trends are always changing. For example, websites that were previously only accessible on desktop computers and laptops, with the advent of smartphones and other mobile devices, websites now need to be responsive. display with different screen sizes.

Minimize risks, keep your site healthy and up to date with the help of a web developer. Part of their maintenance checklist is:

• Make a backup of all information
• Website performance data analysis
• Update servers, plugins, etc.
• Fix dead links and other bugs
• Prevent cyber security threats

Web development can be difficult to navigate, especially for those who haven't started yet. That said, an important step is to evaluate how the site will perform and then tailor it to your business plan.

High-tech skills are a must, such as proficiency in programming languages and troubleshooting. A web developer who can clearly communicate ideas and strategies makes a big difference.

When you need a web designer and web developer

Sometimes, deciding between improving web design and web development is not an easy one. This is especially true when you're building a website from scratch.

While there are options like website builder, platforms that allow anyone to build websites like Wix and Squarespace. These tools are great for do-it-yourselfers or those on a low budget and usually only need a web designer, they offer limited design options and enough functionality to create a website. Basic web.

Whether you are recruiting for web design or web development, it really depends on what your team needs and what your goals are. If you just want to hire someone to help with editing to improve the bounce rate on your website then a front-end developer and web designer is all you need. If you want to learn more about the process and implementation, consider hiring a UX designer.

It is important to consider each person's role in the project and when they should be involved. For example, a web developer might review a proposed web design to see if it is viable before finalizing it. And your web designers should have a say in the development process to ensure that the final output looks and works as intended.

Leverage the skills of a web designer and web developer in creating a branded website that delivers laid out solutions. With the right professionals on your team, you can have more control over building a customer-centric website.
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Final thought

Understanding the nature of web design versus web development can help you better gauge what you need, who can fulfill those needs, and when you need them. Add to that a knowledge of what to look for when hiring, giving you the edge in forming a team to launch a website that works.

The ultimate goal? A website that works, looks good, and converts visitors into shoppers.

Whether it's for personal branding or small business, join the many who have successfully expanded their market reach and increased their revenue channels with functional and visual websites. spectacular.