Which Should I Hire?
Wondering whether to hire a web developer or a web designer?
Designing and developing an effective web site incorporates two skill sets rarely found in one person. The aesthetic element requires creative vision to conceptualize a design and artistic ability to produce it. The structural element demands a methodical approach and a level of attention to detail most artists find unnatural and perhaps even unhealthy.
The Internet is still a rapidly changing frontier. As the web design and development industry matures, software products may emerge that enable designers to provide their clients a finished product without requiring the abilities of a developer. Contrary to what some software companies claim, that time has not come.
Code Generating Software
The best web site designers ensure their sites are built to comply with W3C web standards. If they do not have the time, interest or mindset to build the sites correctly themselves, they delegate the task to a professional web developer. Many gifted artists creating visually inspiring sites do not yet recognize how important this step is for their clients. These artists use software such as Dreamweaver, which automatically generates the programming for them, producing a site that is pretty on the outside but flawed within.
Sites built with generated code begin their life cycle at a competitive disadvantage to standards-compliant, professionally coded web sites.
The best web site designers also realize that great art is not enough. Web site content, organization, programming structure, and copywriting are also important.
Additional factors to consider include handicap accessibility, forward compatibility, minimizing cross-browser and cross-platform viewing anomalies, device independence, usability, interactive capabilities, and, of course, search-engine-friendly programming.
Leading web designers consider all of the factors mentioned above. But finding a talented artist who is also focused on the many non-artistic details required is as difficult as finding an aesthetically gifted programmer.
Guiding a web site from conception to launch requires both skill sets. Should you hire a web designer or a web developer? Find the rare person who can do both jobs well, or hire a team.
Visit the Tools Page to learn what to ask about web standards, CSS and accessibility when interviewing a web developer.
