There are poeple calling themselves either a web designer or web developer. What does it really mean?

What skills are required to be a designer or developer? Can a person be both?

A Designer’s Job

A web designer uses graphics and graphic design software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and DreamWeaver) to create a look for the website. This design is then converted to html, css to bring it to life online.

The designer may not always be the person writing the code, some designers work independently and focus only on design aspects, while another team take a website design live.

DESIGN is a creative job and uses both intuition and imagination, such people are considered right-brained. People in this field may not have a degree but design instincts are much more important than degree. All good designers collect their work portfolios to showcase it for potential employers.

There are variety of concept to master like color and typography, spacial relationships, audience and user experience.

A Developer’s Job

The role of a developer is completely different as compare to a designer.

A web developer builds the structure of websites, typically from the ground up, and knows languages specific to the web. HTML, CSS, Javascript and JQuery are among the tools in their kit. Developers, historically, don’t focus on visuals and making something appealing but create websites with clean and stable code.

Web developers are often thought of as left-brained people. Skills from technical ability and thinking logically are an essential part of their expertise. Web developers usually have degrees in computer science. Most employers will require a portfolio before hiring.

The best developers are often detail-oriented and are precise.

Two Jobs, One Goal

Web designers and developer work closely to make a website or app that attracts users.

To achieve this goal, both the design and development persons must have sound knowledge. A site needs to look good and also function properly. The colors and imagery need to reflect the brand and the interface needs to engage and encourage visitors to take desired action.

Now a days, more designers are learning to code and more developers are paying close attention to design and its theory.