Web designers are responsible for creating websites that are made available to the public. They do this through a variety of methods, such as manually writing code or using templates created by other people, or using software programs designed to create websites quickly and easily. Web designers also use technology such as graphics programs and databases to help them create a website.
User interface (UI) web designers create the interfaces that users will find on a page. This includes what they see when the browser window is opened, along with any menus, buttons or interactive elements that the user might find. User interaction design is one of the most important aspects of UI web designers because it tells the audience what the website is about. Many web designers also work in visual communications, such as media salespeople or advertising agencies. UI web designers may also work in education, in publishing houses, or in government agencies.
Another important facet of web design and development is user research. User research refers to the process of seeking out the preferences of a particular audience, so that the end product meets the needs of the people who will be using it. User research also includes matching different pages with the most common users, according to their age, gender, language, interests, and so on. It is important for web designers and developers to do good user research, because the success of a site is closely related to the success of a user’s experience.
In order to meet their customers’ needs, web designers and developers must work closely with their clients. Clients, of course, have their own needs and wants. The web designer job description of someone who works on websites, therefore, has to take into consideration the preferences of the client in all the ways possible. These include the language used on the website (English or whatever), its appearance, how it can be navigated, what information it provides, and so on.
Web designers should know how to use graphic software, for example, Adobe Dreamweaver, in order to build the user experience and make it as professional as possible. Creative writing skills, including creative writing in HTML or XHTML, are also important. Web developers often write code in Java or JavaScript. Web designers should have good interpersonal skills, since much communication between the client and web developer occurs over the Internet. Communication can take place through email, chat, instant messaging, and so on.
Web designers also need to understand how to optimize websites for search engines. For this, they will often work on basic HTML and web development, but may also work on optimization issues, such as keyword density. One thing that many creative people are good at is coming up with ideas for creative solutions to complex problems, and then testing them out in the real world. Web developers, on the other hand, usually just sit in front of computer systems, developing a site’s user experience from start to finish.
Web developers are more likely to go into programming for these reasons, but the two are not mutually exclusive. Web designers can have a very creative side and still come up with an efficient website design. Most web developers choose to use a basic HTML editor, such as Dreamweaver, in order to do their work. Web designers may also decide to use specialized software, such as Adobe Flash, and use it to construct pages and integrate various interactive features.
So in summary, the difference between web designers and web developers really comes down to the methodologies used to create the sites, and how the two groups go about the problem solving process. Web designers clearly have a technical knowledge of how to build websites, to web developers do not. It really comes down to the fundamental methods that each group uses. Web designers clearly have the advantage because they do have some technological skills in addition to a creative edge. Whereas web developers are usually a group of individuals with very limited technical skill set and no artistic edge, they usually use a user research method to come up with the final product, making every site that they develop a unique entity.