Choosing a web designer vs developer

Why this matters

Web designers and developers have different skills and roles. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right person for your project.

Some people do both design and development. Others specialise in one area. Your project needs determine what you need.

What web designers do

Visual design

Designers create the visual appearance of your site.

• Choose colours, fonts, and visual style.
• Create layouts and page designs.
• Design user interfaces and interactions.
• Create visual assets and graphics.

User experience

Designers plan how users interact with your site.

• Plan site structure and navigation.
• Design user journeys and flows.
• Consider how people will use the site.
• Ensure designs are accessible [1]Source 1 .

Design deliverables

Designers produce visual designs and specifications.

• Wireframes or layout plans.
• Visual designs and mockups.
• Design specifications and style guides.

What web developers do

Technical implementation

Developers build the working website.

• Write code to make websites function.
• Build features and functionality.
• Integrate third-party services.
• Ensure sites work across devices and browsers.

Performance and technical quality

Developers ensure sites perform well [2]Source 2 .

• Optimise for speed and performance.
• Ensure accessibility in code [1]Source 1 .
• Handle security and reliability.
• Manage hosting and deployment.

Development deliverables

Developers produce working websites.

• Functional websites or applications.
• Code and technical documentation.
• Setup and configuration.

When you need a designer

You need a designer when:

• You want a custom visual design.
• You need help planning site structure and user experience.
• You want professional visual assets and graphics.
• You need design guidance and expertise.

When you need a developer

You need a developer when:

• You need a working website built.
• You have designs that need to be implemented.
• You need custom functionality or features.
• You need technical expertise and implementation.

When you need both

Many projects need both design and development.

• Custom sites with unique designs and functionality.
• Projects where design and development work together closely.
• Projects where you want integrated expertise.

People who do both

Some people do both design and development.

• Can be more efficient for smaller projects.
• Reduces communication overhead.
• May have strengths in one area over the other.
• Check their portfolio in both areas.

How to choose

Understand your needs

Know what your project requires.

• Do you need custom design or can you use templates?
• Do you need custom functionality?
• What is your budget and timeline?
• What skills does your project need?

Review portfolios

Look at examples of their work.

• Do their designs match your style and needs?
• Do their sites work well and perform well [2]Source 2 ?
• Are their sites accessible [1]Source 1 ?
• Do they have experience with similar projects?

Ask about their process

Understand how they work.

• How do they approach projects?
• What is their design or development process?
• How do they ensure quality?
• How do they handle accessibility and performance [1]Source 1 [2]Source 2 ?

Red flags

• Portfolios that do not match your needs.
• No mention of accessibility or performance.
• Unrealistically low prices or timelines.
• Vague answers about process or deliverables.
• Promises that seem too good to be true.

Working with designers and developers together

If you work with separate designers and developers:

• Ensure they can work together effectively.
• Plan how design and development will integrate.
• Allow time for collaboration and handoff.
• Ensure designs are implementable and accessible.

Questions to ask

For designers

• How do you approach user experience design?
• How do you ensure designs are accessible [1]Source 1 ?
• What deliverables will you provide?
• How do you work with developers?

For developers

• What technologies do you use?
• How do you ensure sites perform well [2]Source 2 ?
• How do you ensure accessibility [1]Source 1 ?
• What will I receive when the project is complete?

Next step

Understand what your project needs. Decide whether you need a designer, developer, or both. Review portfolios and ask about process. Ensure they understand accessibility and performance [1]Source 1 [2]Source 2 . Choose someone whose work and approach match your needs. The right person makes all the difference. If you are looking for a designer or developer, website build services can help you create a site that meets your needs, or get in touch to discuss your project. For more on working with developers, see working with web developers.