During the very first stages of starting a web design agency, it might seem like a good idea to try and handle most – if not all – of the work that needs to get done totally on your own. Or maybe with a small team. The logic behind this type of attitude is simple: the more you do on your own, the lower your costs and the more earnings go straight to your pocket.

However, this approach has a downside often overlooked by newbies in the industry: if you handle most of the work on your own, the chances are high that you’ll spend all of your time just doing the work. Unavoidably this will lead to sleepless nights, gallons of energy drinks, and many pizza deliveries to your door – are you scared enough yet? If not, then prepare for red eyes, exhaustion, and a bloated stomach. That’s not exactly what you had in mind when you decided to start a company, was it?

Also, you probably won’t make nearly as much money as you had hoped. If you’re deeply involved with coding and are always dealing with customer service, you cannot dedicate as much attention as is needed to create new design concepts. And before you know it, you’ll end up like the other do-it-yourself types – burnt out and broke. Just take a look at some of the top web design agencies in the industry – none of them are known for being run by one single person. All of the reputable website design firms in San Francisco have teams and departments that share projects by divvying up tasks to specialized departments.

Luckily, you don’t have to walk the path of the lone wold. If you can see the good of team-building, appointment, and the shared success of collective work, then your chances of building a prosperous company are high already. At this point, the only thing you have to take care of is finding the right people to join your team and then make everything work properly.

Naturally, creating a new website requires several skill sets. Two central ones are website design and website development. These two terms might seem interchangeable because they’re both essential to the process of building a new website, but there are some fundamental differences. In this article, we are going to cover the particular distinctions between website design and website development and how they work together to produce great websites.

Defining the Role Difference

While web designers and developers work hand-in-hand to produce websites, the primary focus of each one is different. This contrast is necessary to create a balanced site that not only meets customer expectations visually but also includes sound search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and remains functional.

Spotlight and Backstage

A simple way to separate the work of the website’s designer from the developer is by thinking of the site as having two aspects. Generally, designers will focus on the portion of the website visitors can see. It requires them to focus on how users navigate the site and digest or interact with the content.

Developers, on the other hand, focus on the back end of the site (the area users can’t see.) This is where all of the working parts live and make the site interactive. Web developers are often referred to as either a front-end or back-end developer. In short, the front-end developer’s role is similar to that of a designer—building the area of the site users can see. The back-end developer will dig deeper into the technical aspects of the site, like the content management systems (CMS), form submissions, and data transferring.

Aesthetics and Logistics

Building a website is similar to building a house. The goal is to create something aesthetically pleasing and unique, with both a strong foundation and functional space. Web design and development are similar. The design portion of the process focuses on the visual aspects of the site and leverages these items to enhance the user’s experience. This can include:

• Creating a layout that is easy for users to follow and guides them to essential areas of the site;
• Utilizing consistent and cohesive brand elements such as typography, color pallets, and graphics;
• Incorporating relevant, eye-catching media, such as videos or appealing images.

Once the design is mapped out, the visual elements provide a blueprint for the web development process, and now it’s up to the developer to make the site interactive and work from a logistical standpoint. Their focus might include the following aspects:

• Establishing the appropriate platform on which to build the website
• Incorporating usable features like e-commerce features, forms, and plugins
• Writing and manipulating code to achieve the designer’s visual goals and allow the site to run quickly and efficiently

Coding and Design Languages

Another key difference between web designers and web developers are the software and programs they use to create websites. Designers use applications that are likely within the Adobe Creative Suite (for example, InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop) to create a flat, visual representation, or mockup of the site. Developers will use coding language (like HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to build a website and make it interactive.

What Do The Roles Share?

Designing and developing a website involves a lot of collaboration between the two skill areas mentioned, and overlap does occur. More people are receiving training to possess some of each skill. Therefore content management systems (CMS) also allow people to dive into both abilities from the beginner to intermediate level.

Mostly, website design and development bring creative and technical skills together to create beautiful and logical websites. By sharing the same goal, they can create a site that is friendly for users, increases brand awareness, and generates leads.

Conclusion

Most small web design agencies must be able to fill all the critical roles with up to 4 employees, and sometimes hire freelancers, if necessary. As your business grows, you should consider limiting the tasks and responsibilities of each employee and broaden the team.

Corporate culture is something you shouldn’t focus on. If you do focus on it, it may lead to stagnation and collapse of your company. If you stir up a hierarchy, you will most probably end up with increased competition within your team, which is never suitable for businesses in the long run.

You should focus on creating a trusting and friendly environment where everyone feels that they can make an impact on the company’s success. It is a sure-fire way to secure high productivity levels and quick turnarounds, depending on the project. A tightknit web design team will help you outpace your competitors and establish your brand as a force to reckon with on the market.