When we talk about making a website, two terms are often used: web design and web development. A lot of individuals believe that they are equal. However, that is not true. They are dissimilar and yet related.
In simple words, web design is how a website looks, while web development is how a website works. A combination of them is complete: they make a site. A site can be boring in the absence of design. A site can just fail to work without development.
In this blog, we will explain both web design and web development in very easy language. The fundamentals, prices, equipment, and future of websites will also be considered. At the end, you will have the reason why each of them is important and the ways they can be used together.
Web design is about the visual part of a website. It involves planning and designing the appearance, style, and layout of pages. The colours, fonts, images, and placement of items are determined by a designer. The predominant aim is to make a site appealing and user-friendly.
As an illustration, when you enter a shopping site and you find a clean menu, nice product images, and easy-to-find buttons, it is due to good design. This process is often called layout web design because it is about arranging the different parts of a page in a clear way.
Web design is about planning and creating the appearance of a website. You can learn more about standards and practices for web design
Good web design follows rules known as the principles of web design. These are balance, contrast, alignment, and consistency. With these principles, designers come up with beautiful and easy-to-use websites.
Web development, on the other hand, is about building the working system behind a website. Code allows a developer to make a site work. They design the elements that you are aware of yet utilise, like forms, shopping carts, and login systems.
For example, when you click “Buy Now” on an online store and it takes you to checkout, that is web development in action. Developers often use a web development framework to make their job easier. Frameworks contain pre-written code and tools, and they are time-saving as well as more secure than web pages.
Therefore, web development is the engine that powers the design. A site could not do without it, as it would just be a picture and not a moving platform.
The table below shows the main differences between the two:
| Feature | Web Design | Web Development |
| Focus | Looks, layout, style | Function, coding, performance |
| Main Tools | Photoshop, Figma, Sketch | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks |
| Output | Visual mockups and layouts | Working on websites and apps |
| Key Skills | Creativity, colour theory, typography | Coding, problem-solving, logic |
| End Goal | Make the website attractive and easy | Make the website fast and functional |
As you can see, both roles are different. However, both are necessary for a complete website.
It should also be noted that design and development do not exist in different worlds. They must work together. A site that appears fantastic yet takes a long time to load will put off the users. Likewise, a well-functioning site with an unattractive appearance might not be attractive to visitors.
That is why web design and web development are like two sides of the same coin. Designers are concerned with appearance, whereas developers are concerned with functionality. The two skills are combined to make up a complete and useful website.
To understand design better, let us look at the basics of web design. The basic guidelines that govern any project are
It is through these fundamentals that designers will be creating websites that people will like going to.
In addition to the basics, there are some deeper rules called principles of web design. These were used to direct the feel of the site:
Thus, adhering to these principles renders a site clear, professional, and user-friendly. For more research on usability and design psychology, you can visit the Nielsen Norman Group, a global leader in user experience.
One special area is web design for e-commerce. Online stores require additional attention due to working with money and goods. The shopping should be easy and secure in design.
As an illustration, the product pages are supposed to have clear images, prices, and Add to Cart buttons. The checkout procedure should be brief and simple to follow. Also, such trust indicators as secure payment icons are valuable.
In the event of a bad e-commerce design, individuals walk away without purchasing. When done, however, sales are increased. That is why good web design is the heart of every online store. To explore more examples of e-commerce site design, check out Google’s Web.dev e-commerce guide, which shares tips for creating fast and reliable shopping experiences.
As noted earlier, the developers rely on frameworks to accelerate work. A web development framework provides tools and pre-written code to solve common problems.
As an example, a framework provides pre-written code, which can be modified by developers when writing a login system. React, Angular, and Django are some of the popular frameworks.
Moreover, structures contribute to websites being more secure as well as simple to manage. They also enable teams to operate at a higher speed, as all of them are structured in the same way. If you are still unsure which tools or company to go with, read our guide on how to choose a web development company.
Many people ask about the cost of web development. The answer is not simple. The price varies according to some factors:
As a result, the price of web development can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Companies ought to be strategic in their start-ups. If you’d like help building your web design and web development project, you can contact us here at Digisparx.
To have a peek at it, we will assume the building of a business site on the web. To start with, the designer develops a layout. This demonstrates the position of the logo, menu, text and images. Then, the developer develops the site using code.
Then the two test the site together. The designer verifies whether the site is attractive. The developer will test whether everything functions. Lastly, the site is made available to users.
This teamwork shows why design and web development must always go hand in hand.
Technology changes fast. New tools and ideas will be introduced into the future of websites. An example is artificial intelligence (AI), which is already assisting in the development of automatic designs. Moreover, more rapid frameworks are simplifying development.
We can also expect sites to get more personal, where every user receives a personalised experience. Consequently, the need for competent designers and developers will increase.
Therefore, learning web design and web development today is a smart choice for anyone interested in tech.
In conclusion, web design and web development are two different but connected fields. Web design focuses on how a website looks, while web development focuses on how it works. They work together to come up with complete, useful, and attractive websites.
If you understand the basics of web design, follow the principles of web design, and also know how a web development framework works, you can create amazing sites. For online stores, web design for e-commerce is the key to higher sales. And before starting, it is always good to think about the cost of web development.
Lastly, do not forget that technology will continue to evolve. Nevertheless, the relation between design and development will remain close at all times. All successful websites are a combination of the two skills. To see how we can help with your next project, explore our Services page.
