The Difference Between Web Design and Web Development

HR

Hiring Managers

Recruiters

Lend me your ears

There is mass confusion on what the difference is between a web DESIGNER and what a web DEVELOPER is. Then you start mixing in the words UI developer and designer and it gets even more messed up.

I could get into the whole Design Unicorn discussion again, but you can read/research that for yourself

Web DESIGNERS usually are in charge of the aesthetic look and feel of the website. They will use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator (or now, more open source tools) to create a look and feel for the website. Many know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or jQuery. There seems to be a newly minted term in the UI field called VISUAL DESIGNER who also knows about interaction design.

I’ve met UI designers who never touch code, and only work in wire framing tools like AXURE and make some good coin.

A web DEVELOPER does the back end design, which can be all sorts of languages….ASP, JSP, .NET. Coldfusion, Java, databases, mySql

While web designer and web developer should both have a macro understanding what the other does, these are really two different skillets.

Though looking through the want ads you will find a whole lot of Robin Thicke Blurred Lines going on.

For example

http://www.tecture.com/Careers/Web+Designer+and+Front+End+Developer

• Excellent written and verbal client communication skills
• Professional web/interactive design expertise
• HTML and CSS
• JavaScript and jQuery
• Experience creating UI & IA documentation (wireframes, sitemaps, etc.)
• Proficiency in Photoshop & Illustrator
• Active proponent of web standards, usability & accessibility
• Emphasis on clean, usable & sophisticated layouts
• Meticulous eye for detail & style

Bonus Skills:

• PHP, ASP.NET, or other server-side and database programming languages
• iPhone, Android, and mobile web design and development
• Knowledge of web content management systems (Drupal, WordPress)
• You don't use Dreamweaver
• Flash design / ActionScript knowledge

The likelihood this company will actually find someone who knows all of this stuff is pretty much close to none.