Skip to content
What Does a Web Designer Do?
We live in a world connected globally through cell phones, satellites, and the internet. The internet is the greatest connection. There are millions of websites out there and hundreds more being created daily. Many people have learned to make a living in this niche by creating these websites for businesses that are willing to pay for them. These people are known as web designers.
A web designer creates a website or web pages and then puts them on the internet. That’s the simple version anyway. Web designers typically know a bit about programming, and they are very efficient in the use of design software. They have to be to design a page. They also know and understand HTML, and many of them know how to create and maintain the web applications from which the websites are built.
A good web designer works with his client to design a site that handles all of their needs, while at the same time represents that client’s personal or business style preference. Web pages can be a lot like art. They are a person’s representation of a thought or an idea. The web designer should also know how to work with video and sound media to add a special touch to the site.
Web design can be learned through a classroom or self-taught. The biggest factor is the time one is willing to put into it. Classes can be found online or locally.
What Does Web Developer Do?
Web development is a skill that includes many different technologies. However, in essence, it is the responsibility of the web developer is to code the back end and front end of the website to ensure that the client gets the website that the web designer designed and that client asked for. There is a huge difference between being a web developer and a web designer, although their roles do have some overlap, the web designer will, in theory at least, not usually involved in the actual coding of the website.
1. Planing the Design and Function of the Website
It usually takes some time before a web developer starts to write the code that makes up the website. When a contract for a website comes in there will be a lot of planning and analysis that needs to take place. The customer will often want the website to function in a certain way. The project manager will need to know about the reason for the website and what the client’s expectations are. It is up to the project manager and his development team to put together a package for the client that meets his/her needs.
During this phase of the process, the web designer will most likely participate to make sure that his design works with the customer’s requirements. Indeed, the requirements will most likely include details about how the customer wants the web site to appear, e.g. colours, logo and layout etc.
2. Create The Layout and Function Specified by the Customer
When the project manager has finished the planning and analysis stage the web developer will start coding/developing the website. This often includes working with both client-side technologies such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS and server-side technologies such as PHP and .NET (dot net).
A good web developer needs to be fluent with many technologies. There is no such thing as a HTML only developer!
Knowing which tools to use for each part of the website is key to the success of the project.
3. Implementing The Web Design
You might think that when the web developer has finished developing the website that the web designer would then start implementing the web site. Even though they often work together it is usually the web developer’s job to implement the design on the website.
It is important to the success of the website that the web designer and the web developer work together to complete the website!
4. Testing, Testing, Testing
Testing is one of the most important parts of any web development project. If there are critical flaws in the website when launched, the customer may be at risk of losing money or some credibility.
Having said that, the web developer who developed the website should not be responsible for testing that website. It is very important that it is tested by someone who has not been involved in the actual development of the web site. This is because we do not tend to notice our own mistakes, even though, when they are pointed out they seem obvious.
Sometimes these 4 stages often take place at the same time. Iterative development has become increasingly popular, meaning that parts of the website will most likely be tested while other parts of the site are still in development. This may be a more efficient way of working in a busy office. It means that there are no hold-ups.
Modern web development includes many different tasks, but it all starts with the fundamentals.
A useful Resource: 50 Useful Tools and Resources for Web Dsigners
