What makes a web designer different from a web developer? If you’re new to IT, you could mistakenly believe they’re the same thing.
While both positions are critical in creating websites, they are not the same role.
A web designer transforms a brand’s concept into an on-screen reality and understands the target audience’s preferences.
A web developer creates the site’s essential structure by constructing logical, programmable websites using programming languages.
We’ll go through the differences between the web designer and developer in this tutorial and how to choose your careers. Let’s get going!
Similarities and Differences
Designers are more artistically inventive and user-focused, whereas developers utilize coding languages to construct a website’s core structure.
Developers use their programming talents to help designers realize their visions.
Consider developers to be architects and designers to be building workers. They are both required for website building, but they have different skill sets.
Later, we’ll go into the details, describing the parallels and contrasts between designers and developers. As a result, you’ll have all of the information you need to make the most significant decision for your website.
Job Description
A web designer builds a website’s visual aspects, keeping aesthetics and usability in mind. These experts ensure that the website is visually appealing and legible and that the visitor can quickly locate what they’re searching for.
Designers must keep up with the newest trends and follow specific guidelines and best practices. They often work with brand images, color palettes, typefaces, and other design elements.
On the other hand, the primary responsibility of a web developer is to create and maintain a website’s essential structure. Their job entails a great deal of technical effort, including the use of sophisticated computer languages and intricate code.
In a word, a developer takes designers’ ideas and concepts and transforms them into actual, live, and completely functional websites.
Education Requirements
Web design degrees are available at colleges and universities at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels.
Although a master’s degree in web design helps students build a more specific skill set in the sector, it is less prevalent than the other three alternatives.
A Bachelor’s Degree is usually required to work as a designer. Graphic designers, computer scientists, and computer applications students are the most common majors for designers.
Students who finish a certificate program may also be prepared to take the famous Adobe Certified Associate test, demonstrating proficiency in Adobe’s Creative Cloud software. Certificates are shorter than associate and bachelor’s degrees, and they usually take less than a year to finish.
Compared to certificate programs, associate degrees in web design provide more in-depth study. Associate degrees in web design typically take two years to finish for full-time students.
A candidate with a bachelor’s degree may benefit from certification in contemporary web development platforms and tools.
Continuing education schools, software businesses, and professional organizations provide such certificates.
The Microsoft Certified Professional Developer credential, for example, requires candidates to complete the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist test and have at least 2-3 years of relevant job experience.
The World Organization of Webmasters also provides three levels of developer certification, including an exam that measures programming, web security, web design, servers, database administration, and networking skills.
Skills
The sets of skills required for designers to succeed differ based on their specialty and function. However, there are a few key skills to have in general:
- CSS and HTML knowledge
- Understanding website design principles and standards of web accessibility
- Interaction and responsive design
- Optimization of Conversion Rates (CRO)
- Journey mapping for users
- Prototyping and wireframing
- Color theory, typography, and branding
- Design software and tools
- Empathy, creativity, and communication abilities
Besides, a developer should be familiar with:
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP
- JavaScript and jQuery
- Databases testing and debugging
- Systems for Content Management, such as WordPress
- Optimization for Search Engines
- Skills in critical thinking
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Debugging and testing experience
- Ability to problem-solve
Job Outlook
According to the BLS, developers have a bright future, with employment anticipated to grow by 13% between 2020 and 2030.
Although graduates of a certificate program are eligible for entry-level work in Web design, those with a 2-year degree will have excellent career chances.
Web design is a rewarding profession. Employers are now in great demand for web designers, and the area is predicted to increase by 27 percent by 2024. Because of this need, web designer wages will remain high in the future.
Salaries
According to current statistics, developers make more money than designers.
According to our research, the salary for a designer in the United States is $79,496. And the average wage for developers is $86,949.
A freelance designer often charges $20-$50 per hour, whereas a freelance developer typically charges $30-$65 per hour.
A medium-sized web design business, which handles both sides of website building, would charge between $65 and $100 per hour for a simple website.
Comparison Table
Hopefully, you now gained more knowledge of how a designer differs from a developer. Let’s look at a short analysis of the significant differences between these jobs to tie everything together:
| Web Developer | Web Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Job description | – Developers concentrate on structure and functionality. – Developers construct the site if the notion is financially and technically feasible. | – Designers focus on aesthetics and usability. – Designers create a mockup based on UI, UX, and visual aspects to envision the idea and style of a website. |
| Education requirements | Developers must have a solid technical background. Understanding programming languages and complicated frameworks are part of this. | A designer primarily focuses on the aesthetic and creative aspects. |
| Skills | – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP – JavaScript and jQuery – Databases testing and debugging – Systems for Content Management, such as WordPress – Optimization for Search Engines | – CSS and HTML knowledge – Website design principles – Interaction and responsive design – Optimization of Conversion Rates (CRO) – Journey mapping for users – Prototyping and wireframing – Color theory, typography, and branding – Design software and tools – Empathy, creativity, and communication abilities |
| Job Outlook | Grows by 13% between 2020 and 2030. | Increases by 27 percent by 2024. |
| Salary | $126,146 | $79,496 |
Designers and developers are essential in creating, constructing, and developing websites. The two jobs rely on one another to provide high-quality output.
Which Job Is Best For You?
Now is an excellent time to begin a career in web development. However, the first step is to choose if you want to work as a designer or a developer.
To choose which professional path is ideal for you, consider which aspects of website development appeal to you the most.
We also recommend that you check into the progression opportunities, demand, and growth opportunities that each job offers.
Of course, you also need to consider the salaries. The typical salary for a developer or designer depends on several variables, including your experience level and abilities, region, and specialist area.
It is not necessary to choose between the two. Building a website from the ground up, requires the involvement of both a developer and a designer.
After all, collaboration is what makes the website’s dream come true.
FAQs
1. Who gets paid more, web designer or developer?
According to current statistics, developers make more money than designers. According to our reports, the average salary for a designer is $79,496. Meanwhile, the average wage for developers is $126,146.
2. Is web design more accessible than web development?
Some people believe that since front-end and back-end development need higher-level programming, they will be more challenging to master than design.
Others believe that design is more challenging since it involves more intrinsic creativity and knowledge of design tools.
3. Can you be both a web designer and developer?
You may undoubtedly work as a designer or developer. Just bear in mind that being an expert in both subjects will take time.
Conclusion
Web designers and developers have significantly different jobs and duties, despite the similarities.
Designers concentrate on the site’s aesthetic features and front-end, impacting its usability. Besides, developers are in charge of converting thoughts and ideas into entirely functional websites.