Web design and development covers a wide set of skills, from user interface design and web graphic design to multimedia, visual interaction, SEO, and user experience design. Providers range from boutique website development firms to small and mid-sized web design studios, and they package complete website design with SEO services. Their workflow includes market research, user testing, and site analysis before building the site to spec.
What web design and development firms deliver
Agencies offer complete web design and development packages along with SEO consulting, using current tools and technology to build dynamic sites. Staffing tends to cover every aspect of web design and development, so clients get design and engineering in one engagement.
Why web designers sit at the center of a project
Web designers decide the website’s layout and color scheme. Most firms use high-end software programs to build layout and graphics, which lets web developers and designers produce interactive elements that draw in potential customers.
Usability testing before launch
Web designers also push for sites that are user-friendly, because the website is built for the comfort of visitors. Before any design is finalized, designers run usability testing to see how easily someone navigating the site can get confused or put off by the layout.
Guiding visitors through the site
Designers and developers need a good rapport with visitors. Solid website design principles help visitors see how the site is structured, how the pages connect, and what they are looking at. Page layouts stay easy to use rather than overwhelming, and some designers add a menu system on the home page so visitors can move around with less friction.
Basic functionalities and visual layers
Basic functionalities like drop-down menus, search boxes, pop-up boxes, and image boxes are required. Once those are set, designers and developers layer in color schemes, images, videos, and other multimedia to make the site functional. Search engine functionality gets folded into the design principles as well. Developers and web designers follow strict guidelines when creating websites and work through every aspect until the site is functional.
How a web development project actually starts
Web development begins with simple graphic design, then moves into content in formats including Flash, JavaScript, and multimedia. From there web designers set the layout of the website and any other visual elements. Proficiency in web design services like web development and web designing lets designers build an interactive and attractive site.
Coding languages and the role of HTML
Web developers and designers use different coding languages to create websites with different interface elements and functionalities. Some developers have coding skills and others do not, which often depends on company size, funding, and team size. No matter the skill mix, HTML is the coding language used to build the website’s code. HTML is a set of computer instructions that tell web designers and developers how to set up the site’s pages, and it lets the designer or developer add images and change variables such as the site’s color scheme.
FAQ
What skills does web design cover?
Web design covers user interface design, web graphic design, multimedia design, visual and app interaction design, writing for the web, user experience design, and search engine optimization, as noted in the Interaction Design Foundation topic page on web design.
Why is usability testing done before a website design is final?
Usability testing checks how easily someone navigating the site can get confused or put off by the design, so the layout can be adjusted before launch to maximize visitor comfort.
What coding language is used to build a website’s code?
HTML is the coding language used to build the website’s code. It provides computer instructions that tell web designers and developers how to set up pages, add images, and change variables such as the site’s color scheme.
