Website Design North Devon

Web development is often confused with web design. The definitions of each are unclear.

 

Web design usually involves content creation and look and feel.

Many site owners provide the content for the website but a web designer needs to be able to edit and even rewrite the content if necessary. Web designers also normally do the usability testing for the navigation and site loading speed.

 

The web designer’s job is to focus on the layout and look of a website. They choose the colour scheme and make decisions on how the text and graphics are displayed. They are concerned with the impression the site gives the visitor and how the visitor will navigate around the site.

 

Web development involves creating the functionality and testing its usability for the website.

 

Web developers are programmers. They usually handle more complicated sites and know various scripting languages. Their focus is on the interactive features of a site such as the shopping cart for an ecommerce site or a survey form or an order form. You will need the services of a web developer for a dynamic website.

 

When considering who to hire to build your website, a web designer or a web developer, be aware that they both have their strengths and limitations. A web designer will give you the right colours and the right look for your site and they understand what people respond to.

 

Knowing what kind of site you need in the beginning is important because if you hire a web designer to build your website and you did not factor into the requirements that you were going to need, for example, an advanced form, you will end up with a very nice looking website that does nothing for you.

 

If you go the other way and have a web developer build your site, you could wind up with a very functional site that looks terrible. Design is always going to be secondary to a developer. If you need a dynamic website and the person you’re considering is more of a designer, the project can still be successful.

 

If you’re still not sure which way to go, web designer or web developer, you would be better off leaning towards the web designer because the designer deals with that all-important first impression.

 

Most Internet users decide within the first 3 seconds, whether or not they are going to stay on a site. Your project will be successful with a web designer as long as they have good web development resources as their disposal.

 

At Website Design North Devon, we have both Website Designers and Website Programmers.