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Web design and development is an umbrella term that refers to the process of establishing a website. The top website development services in USA look after both the design and development of a website. Are they the same? Or is there a difference between web design and web development? Read on to find out.

What is Web Design?

Web design is the practice of conceptualizing and establishing the aspect of a website that we, as a user, come across. It focuses on the aspects that deal with the user’s experience rather than the software development i.e. web development. Initially limited to desktop browsers, web design today accommodates mobile and tablet browsers as well. The concept includes the execution of graphical elements to empower a user’s interaction with the website. These elements improve the user’s experience and render a pleasing aesthetic visual. Designers may rely on infographics, ads, logos, and other visual elements to manifest the look and feel of the website.

The Evolution Of Web Design

As we previously discussed, there was once a time when web design was dedicated to desktop browsers. Today, its focus has shifted to mobile and tablet browsers to a much greater extent. Perhaps the main reason behind the shift is the 54.4% of global website traffic that these minimal gadgets contribute. Moreover, Google prioritizes mobile-optimized websites as a key metric while determining a page’s search ranking. Therefore, web designers leverage designing sites that compliment both desktop and mobile browsers i.e. responsive and adaptive designs. In responsive design, the content adjusts dynamically according to the screen size. On the other hand, in adaptive design, the content is stagnant in layout size that mimics the standard screen sizes. Both these designs have one objective in common – ensuring unparalleled user engagement and experience.

What Does a Web Designer Do?

Now that we know the basics of web design, here’s the role that a web designer plays in the process. As the name suggests, a web designer is a professional who conceptualizes and brings a design to life. They create a layout and other visual aspects of a website to render it engaging, exciting, and worth surfing at. Their goal is to offer a web experience that compels the visitor to remain at the website for longer. When they retain themselves on a website, there’re higher chances that they would make a purchase and return in the future. To ensure so, they contrive a general framework and layout, along with conversion-generating components and web pages that translate across all platforms.

There are three types of web designers, each capable of performing a specific type of task, such as:

• User Experience (UX)
• User Interface (UI)
• Visual 

A UX designer ensures that the structure of the website engages visitors and retains them for a profitable experience. They endeavor to achieve human-centric web designs through vigorous research and testing.

UI designers, on the other hand, are crucial to improving the website-user interaction. They amplify and optimize the website’s usability in such a way that it promotes conversions.

Visual designers, as the title indicates, look after the layout and visual elements of the website. Their scope of work includes both UX and UI designs for an aesthetic and easy-to-use interface. 

A web designer, regardless of which kind, used various tools, software, and perform to execute their task to perfection. These include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma. They also need to be proficient in skills and technologies such as:

• HTML and CSS
• Principles of website design
• Web accessibility standards
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
• User journey mapping
• Wireframing and prototyping

What is Web Development?

While web designers work on the visual of a website, it is web development that provides a landscape to do so. It brings to life or function the look and feel of a website that came into being during web design. The concept refers to the use of codes that make a website work. Web development is divided into two aspects: front-end and back-end. The front-end aka client-side is what the user sees. The back-end or the server-side deals with data management within the database. Following is how the two work:

Back-end Development:

It occurs backstage of the website and looks after data storage and organization that we see at the front. For example, any information entered by the customer at the front end is stored in the database at the back. The database lives on a server to ensure its retainment and safety.

A website works seamlessly only if there’s uninterrupted communication between the two ends of a site. The conductor side i.e. the back-end assures that all applications, databases, and servers work immaculately. It employs programming languages like Ruby, PHP, and Python in harmony with frameworks like Ruby on Rails and others.

Front-end Development:

This phase of web development deals with what the user sees. It occurs in the browser and is majorly dominated by design elements. From the site’s color theme, layout, fonts, and images. Front-end development relies on coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The languages allow professionals to render functionality to the buttons and other interactive features for the audience to do so.

What Does a Web Developer Do?

A web developer offers the designers an initial web structure to execute their services. Their expertise is more inclined towards the technical side as they deal with complex codes and programming languages. It listens to what a developer wants, understands their ideas and requirements, and brings them to life as a fully functional website.

To put it simply, a web developer constructs the site itself. They do so by coding and aligning the server with the databases at the backend. Furthermore, they’re also responsible for configuring user-side features and functionality with the core of the site’s framework. Once the website is developed, a web developer performs testing and debugging and other post-launch protocols to ensure that the website functions smoothly.

There’re three kinds of web developers, each looks after the back-end and front-end of the web development process. The third kind is the all-rounder that can perform both kinds of development. However, each needs to be versed in tools and skills such as:

• Coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHO
• JavaScript Frameworks
• Testing and debugging
• CMS such as WordPress
• Search Engine Optimization

Also Read: How to get Instagram Verified Badge?

The Role of a Web Design and Development Agency Do?

Websites play a humungous role in establishing a brand’s identity and promising a business’ sustainability. Whether you own a small startup, an SMB, or a mighty corporate, your digital presence is incomplete without a website. However, creating a web presence might be a tricky business, but not for those who’re skilled in its design and development. You can harness the potential of such teams and individuals by hiring the top digital agency in USA. Such full-services agencies not only design and develop your web presence but go an extra mile to increase its profitability. They optimize it to rank better for the site to revel in traffic that converts to generate better ROI.