Key Highlights
- Deciding between a web designer and a web developer is a common point of doubt for business owners, and the decision usually comes down to what's actually broken.
- A developer is the right hire when the site has functionality, integration, or performance problems, like a form that doesn't reach the CRM.
- A designer is the right hire when the site works fine technically but looks outdated or confuses visitors.
- AI website builders can handle a basic one-page site, but businesses still need a developer for e-commerce or CRM integrations, and someone for ongoing maintenance once the site is live.
A web designer and a web developer solve different problems, but the roles get lumped together so often that most business owners aren't sure which one they actually need.
The honest answer depends on what's wrong with your site right now, not on the job title itself. Here's where we break down the difference, and how to figure out which one your project needs.
Web designer vs web developer: What’s the difference?
A web designer is primarily responsible for the visual and user experience aspects of a website. They work on page layouts, navigation, typography, colours, imagery and other elements that shape how visitors interact with the site.
A web developer takes that design and builds the website. Their work can include writing code, configuring a content management system, building functionality, connecting integrations and addressing technical issues.
Here's the difference at a glance:
The two roles are different, but they often work closely together.
What does a web designer do?
A web designer plans the visual experience of a website and how visitors move through it.
Their work can include:
1. Website layouts
A designer determines how information should be arranged on each page. This includes the placement of headings, images, calls to action, forms and other elements.
2. User experience
Good web design makes it easier for visitors to find information and complete important actions, such as contacting a business, requesting a quote or making a purchase.
3. Visual design
Designers work with typography, colours, imagery, spacing and other visual elements to create a consistent website that reflects the business and its brand.
4. Responsive design
A website needs to work across desktops, tablets and mobile devices. Designers consider how layouts and elements should adapt to different screen sizes.
5. Prototypes and design systems
Designers may use tools such as Figma to create page designs and prototypes before development begins. They can also establish reusable components and design rules to keep the website consistent.
A web designer's work is therefore more than choosing colours and making a website look attractive. Good design helps visitors understand what a business offers and what they should do next.
What does a web developer do?
A web developer builds and maintains the technical side of a website. Depending on the project, this can include:
1. Building website pages
Developers turn approved designs into working web pages using technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
2. Setting up a CMS
A developer may configure a content management system so the business can add, edit and manage website content.
3. Adding functionality
Forms, search features, calculators, booking systems, customer portals and other interactive features may require development work.
4. Connecting other systems
Websites often need to connect with CRM platforms, payment systems, marketing tools, analytics platforms and other business software.
5. Improving technical performance
Developers can address issues that affect your website page speed, mobile performance, security, accessibility and the overall reliability of a website.
The amount of development required depends on the website. A simple brochure website may need relatively little custom development, while an e-commerce website or customer portal can require much more.
Web designer vs web developer: Who should you hire?
The answer depends on the problem you are trying to solve.
When you need a designer
A web designer may be the right choice if:
- Your website looks outdated.
- Your pages are difficult to navigate.
- Your branding is inconsistent across the site.
- Visitors struggle to find important information.
- You are planning a visual redesign.
- You need new page layouts or improved user experiences.
For example, if your website works technically but looks dated and makes it difficult for visitors to understand your services, the main problem may be design.
When you need a developer
A developer may be the better choice if:
- Your website needs new functionality.
- Forms or other features are not working correctly.
- You need to connect your website to another system.
- Your CMS needs to be configured or customised.
- You have technical performance problems.
- You need ongoing technical maintenance.
For example, if your website looks good but your enquiry form does not connect to your CRM, you have a development problem rather than a design problem.
When you need both
Many website projects need both design and development.
This is particularly common when you are:
- Building a new website.
- Completely redesigning an existing website.
- Rebranding your business online.
- Moving to a new CMS.
- Adding ecommerce or more advanced functionality.
- Fixing both user experience and technical problems.
A designer can determine how the website should look and work from the visitor's perspective. A developer can build the technical foundation that makes it work.
What should you look for when hiring a web designer or developer?
Before hiring someone, look beyond whether they can produce a visually impressive website. Consider these questions:
1. Have they worked on similar websites?
Someone who has built websites for businesses like yours may already understand your audience, content requirements and common website functions.
2. What exactly will they handle?
Clarify whether the scope covers design, development, content management, integrations, testing and launch.
3. Can they explain their approach clearly?
You should understand what will happen during the project without needing to know how to code.
4. Who will maintain the website?
Ask what happens after launch and who handles updates, fixes and technical maintenance.
5. What systems will the website need to connect to?
If you use a CRM, booking platform, payment system or other software, make sure the developer understands those requirements before work begins.
6. Will the website work on mobile devices?
Responsive design should be part of the project rather than something added at the end.
The best choice is usually the person or team that understands both the website's technical requirements and what the website needs to achieve for the business.
Can AI replace a web designer or developer?
AI site builders like Webflow and Framer can generate a working page from a prompt in minutes, so do you need to hire anyone?
For a very simple website, perhaps not. If you need a basic one-page site with information such as your services, opening hours, location and contact details, an AI website builder may be enough to get you online.
For most businesses, yes. AI builders struggle once you need things a real site has to do: run e-commerce, take bookings, connect to a CRM, or get updated without breaking. And someone still has to maintain it. A generic template gets harder to fix the more it grows, so what you save now often turns into a rebuild later.
Why most businesses end up needing both
A designer without a developer can produce a beautiful design that never becomes a working website. A developer without a designer can build a functional site that visitors struggle to understand or trust.
Most business websites need both skill sets, applied at the right stages of the project. And as the website evolves, both skills may be needed again.
This is why many businesses choose a team with both design and development in-house. It removes the handoff between separate providers and gives you one team responsible for taking the project from design through to development.
Digital Treasury works this way. Design and development sit under one roof, so your project can move from initial design to a working website without changing hands. When you need to make changes later, you also have the same team available to handle both the design and development work.
Need help with a new website or redesign? Talk to Digital Treasury about your project.
