Understanding the Three Major Types of Web Design
Web design encompasses a variety of disciplines and skills in the creation and maintenance of web sites. The various fields of web design encompass graphic design; web user interface design; visual communication design; typography; authoring, which includes standardised coding and proprietary applications; and online marketing, which involve search engine optimisation and online branding. There are also many forms of multimedia arts and design such as web animation and real-time 3D graphics. Some areas of web design are simply concerned with creating websites, but there are others involved in website development, ecommerce, shopping cart systems, privacy management and client-side programming. Web design also involves the process by which content is produced and distributed over the internet, the interactions between users within a website and how these interact with one another.
Web designers are the artists and technicians behind the technical aspects of web design. They are involved in the process of web development, conceptualising and writing content, and ensuring that the site appears aesthetically appealing to all who view it. Web designers must also be capable of producing eye-catching, functional and navigational pages for the site, as well as being able to maintain user interfaces that are aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and functional at the same time. They must also be highly skilled in computer programming and in interaction with other humans.
The roles and responsibilities of web designers and programmers are completely separate and distinct from each other. Programmers are responsible for writing the code that enables the web pages to load and display on the user’s screen, while web designers create the graphics and visual content of the site. This separation provides website designers an opportunity to collaborate with their programmers, in order to ensure that both sides are happy with the site’s final appearance. Sometimes, though, the programmer and designer may need to work together in some cases, depending on the requirements of the project.
A front-end developer is responsible for implementing the functionality of a website, generally through JavaScript code. Though a designer may have created the initial design concepts, the back-end developer will translate those ideas into code that can be implemented within the framework of the website. Though not a “front-end” developer, the back-end developer also has some responsibility in terms of storing client data, as well as keeping the database up-to-date. Both designers and back-end developers play an integral part in the overall functionality and appearance of a web site. When either one leaves the job, it’s often recommended that they continue to collaborate on the ongoing development of the site.
Lastly, we have the User Experience Designer. This individual plays an important role in the creation of the end-user experience, or the way the user will feel once they have navigated to the site. User experience designers are most closely associated with the creation of new websites, but they can also apply to the development of sites already in operation. They are responsible for building user interfaces that are visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to use. Most User Interface Designers will work closely with a team of developers to build out the conceptual design of the website, as well as the functionality of the pages.
While many web designers code the websites they create, there are also many web designers that focus on the actual concept of the website. Though they do not code, they do construct the visual layout of the pages, as well as adding interactivity features such as video and audio. With so many options in today’s market for websites, many web designers find it difficult to stay afloat.
