Do I need both a web designer and a web developer?
Key takeaways
- A web designer plans the structure, look and visitor journey of your website.
- A web developer builds the pages, connects the CMS and makes features like forms and online stores work.
- A site that looks great but breaks, or works but confuses visitors, loses customers either way.
- Hiring the two separately often makes you the messenger between them.
- An agency puts designers and developers on the same team from the first meeting.
Think of a new restaurant. An interior designer decides how it looks and how guests move through it. A builder makes sure the kitchen, plumbing and wiring actually work. You would not ask either one to do the other's job. A business website is similar: it needs someone to design it and someone to build it, and they need to talk to each other.
What does a web designer actually do?
A web designer decides how your website looks and how easy it is to use. They turn your brand, your goals and your customers' needs into page layouts that people understand at a glance.
- Plans the structure: which pages exist and what goes on each one.
- Designs the look: colours, fonts, images, spacing and buttons.
- Thinks about the visitor's journey: how someone finds a product, reads about you and gets in touch.
- Makes sure the design works on phones, tablets and computers, and in Arabic as well as English where needed.
What does a web developer actually do?
A web developer turns the design into a real, working website. They make it load fast, work correctly and stay secure.
- Builds the pages so they look like the design on every screen size.
- Connects the CMS, the admin panel you use to edit your website.
- Makes features work: contact forms, product catalogues, orders, search and languages.
- Handles speed, security and hosting set-up, so the site is reliable once it is live.
How are the two roles different?
In short, the designer decides what it should be like and the developer makes it actually work. The table shows who usually owns each part of a typical business website.
| Part of the website | Web designer | Web developer |
|---|---|---|
| Page structure and menus | Plans it | Builds it |
| Look and feel, brand colours, fonts | Creates it | Reproduces it accurately |
| Mobile layout | Designs how it adapts | Makes it adapt on real devices |
| Contact and enquiry forms | Decides fields and layout | Makes them send and store data |
| Online store, products and orders | Designs product and checkout pages | Connects products, stock data and orders |
| Arabic and English versions | Designs right-to-left layouts | Sets up both languages in the CMS |
| Speed and security | Keeps images and layouts lean | Optimises, secures and tests |
Why does a business website need both?
Because a website that looks great but breaks, or works perfectly but confuses visitors, loses customers either way. Most business sites need both skills at a professional level.
- A designer without a developer may give you beautiful pictures of pages that are slow, hard to edit or impossible to build as drawn.
- A developer without a designer may give you a site that works but looks generic and does not guide visitors toward calling you or buying.
- Both, working separately, often leads to finger-pointing when something does not match.
You can read more about what the full job includes in what's included in professional web design.
Can one person do both jobs?
Some people can, and for a small, simple site that can work well. But few individuals are equally strong at design and development, and one person doing both also means one person checking their own work.
As the site grows, with an online store, several languages or regular content updates, the gaps tend to show. For a fuller comparison, see freelancer or web design agency.
How does an agency give you both on one team?
An agency puts designers and developers on the same team, working on the same project from the start. That changes how the work flows:
- Discovery together: the designer and developer both hear your goals, so the design is realistic to build.
- Structure approved first: you agree the pages and menus before anyone designs the details.
- Design with build in mind: the developer reviews designs early and flags problems before they turn into delays.
- Build and review: the designer checks the built pages against the design.
- One contact for you: you talk to one person, not two separate suppliers.
Where does the CMS fit in?
Both roles meet in the admin panel. The designer decides how your content should look; the developer connects it so you can change it yourself. At Kensoftware our in-house designers and developers all work with our own CMS, so designs are planned around what you will be able to edit, and you can update pages, products and news without calling anyone.
If you would like designers and developers working together on your website, get in touch with our team.
How Kensoftware approaches this
- Our in-house designers and developers join the project together from discovery, so designs are realistic to build.
- We agree the page structure with you first, then design, then build, with our designers reviewing the built pages against the approved design.
- Every site runs on our own CMS, so our designers plan layouts around what you will be able to edit yourself.
- You deal with one dedicated project contact rather than coordinating separate suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a web designer also build the website?
Some can, especially for simple sites. Few people are equally strong at both, though, and one person doing both also means one person checking their own work.
What is the difference between UI design and web design?
UI (user interface) design focuses on the screens and controls people interact with, such as buttons and forms. Web design is a broader term that covers the whole website's structure, look and usability, and usually includes UI design.
Do I still need a developer after the site is launched?
For day-to-day content, usually not, if you have a good CMS and training. You will still want developer support for new features, bigger changes and keeping the site secure and up to date.