This one is for website design, development, and graphics as well as online content beginners. Then, of course, you’ll need to choose a platform known as the content management system. Notably, Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, generally, provide wide design customization options — plus tools you can use to give your website a one-of-a-kind design.
Basically, they work great for some types of custom-made websites. As well as, for projects meant for further monetization. The only problem is that the exploration and use of such systems may be a problem for users, who lack coding basics. But, what is the real difference in web design & development if you were to ask yourself? Is this something you can easily answer?
In the early days of the web, the answer was simple: designers design and developers code. However, in today’s world, you can find a web designer who doesn’t know at least a little HTML and CSS. Hence, you won’t have to look far for a front-end web developer who can whip up a storyboard. For one thing, most people learn web coding because they want to create the next Facebook.
Or rather, find a job in the social media industry. To enumerate, web development broadly refers to the tasks associated with developing websites for hosting via intranet or the internet. Whereby, the web development process includes web design, web content development, client-side/server-side scripting, and network security configuration, among other tasks.
What Website Design And Development Is All About
Sometimes, website design is also known as website development — both of them involve either website styling or structuring. And, it’s also a good choice to learn a general introduction to coding since it’s super easy to get started. Whether you’re looking for a career or just want to learn how to code, learning how to develop a web is simply for you.
However, if you’re strictly speaking about the general concepts of website design & development the distinction is a little clear. All in all, these two roles play a major part in building the websites and apps we know. With this in mind, web design & development ranges from creating plain text pages to complex web-based applications.
Such as social network applications and electronic business applications. In that case, let’s try and understand the key principles involved during website styling and structuring. So, if still asking, what is the main difference between website development and design for beginner webmasters? Well, follow our leads to get all the answers to this and more similar questions ahead.
In the first place, web design governs everything involving the visual aesthetics and usability of a website. Such as color scheme, layout, and information flow. And, this is in addition to everything else relating to the visual aspects of the UI/UX (user interface and user experience). There’re skills and tools that can distinguish a web designer from a web developer that we can all relate to.
Consider some of these notable skills:
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) or other design software
- Graphic design and Logo design
- Responsive web layout and format
- Placing call-to-action buttons
- The overall web-based business branding
- Context typography and color palettes
- Wireframes, mockups, storyboards, etc.
Besides having the above skills, in most cases, web design focuses on what the user actually sees on their computer screen or mobile device. Moreover, less so about the mechanisms beneath the surface that make it all work. Though the use of color, images, typography, and layout bring a digital experience to life.
How To Get Started With Website Design
Important to realize, website development & design is the coding or programming that enables website functionality, per the owner’s requirements. It mainly deals with the non-design aspect of building websites, which includes coding and writing markup. In general, website development can be split into two categories — front-end and back-end.
On one hand, the front-end or client-side of an application is the code responsible for determining how the website will actually display the designs. And that’s mocked up by a designer. On the other hand, the back-end or server-side of an application is responsible for managing data within the database. Hence, serving the data to the front-end for display.
In other words, it’s the front-end developer’s job to share the most overlap with the web designer. Markedly, there are some common skills and tools traditionally viewed as unique to the front-end developer that we can easily distinguish.
Such skills include:
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- CSS preprocessors (i.e., LESS or Sass)
- Frameworks (i.e., AngularJS, ReactJS, Ember)
- Libraries (i.e., jQuery)
- Git as well as GitHub
Front-end web developers don’t usually create mock-ups, select typography, or pick color palettes. Rather the designer provides them. It’s the developer’s job to bring those mock-ups to life. Whilst, utilizing the best professional skills. That said, understanding what the designer wants requires some knowledge of best practices — both in UI and UX design terms.
What You Should Consider Before A Website Design
Learning HTML from scratch can take 6+ months, let alone CSS and PHP. Having a basic knowledge of HTML can help you gauge things more quickly. But, if you want to create a website within a day or two, learning HTML isn’t a viable option.
Considerably, for instance, WordPress Website Builders are expensive and often very limited. They are good for one-page websites, but not more. On the other hand, Drupal is a very powerful platform that is popular with web developers and experienced coders.
However, it comes with a very steep learning curve that makes it a bad choice for beginners. Joomla is similar to WordPress and works great for online stores. Hence, you’ll need at least a little bit of technical coding to make it work the way you want.
Website Design Using A Website Builder
Websites differ as well as the approaches to their creation. The more full-featured website design you need. Furthermore, the effort you will have to invest in the process of its development.
Website builders are quite easy-to-use and it’s not difficult to explore their basic features. To launch a project with a website builder, you’ll have to complete the following steps:
1. The Choice of the Service
The web abounds in site builders, which differ from each other by the feature sets and web building objectives. It’s impossible to test all the systems. Thou, it’s recommended to test those of them you plan to use. Define the cost of the systems and their special terms of use, if any. Compare the services analyzed to draw the conclusion.
2. Website Theme Template
As soon as you are done with the system selection, it is high time to sign up for it. You can generally do this in a few simple steps. Either by filling out the registration form and using your email to confirm the action. Or by using social network accounts. Both options are easy, understandable, and quick, irrespective of the service you use.
Right after you register with the website builder, most systems will offer you the template selection option. Browse the collection to get the template, which adheres to your website specialization or business specification most of all.
3. Domain Name Choice Selection
As a rule, website builders offer domain connection options right from the start. Yet, if you don’t have one, you are welcome to buy it from the system. Whatever service you will go for, you will get a free third-level domain by default. Rather, it works well for testing the major system features only. It doesn’t make any sense to publish your website with it, especially if you have long-lasting goals and serious aspirations.
4. Website Design Customization
Suppose, you are done with the template and domain choice. What’s next? Your further step implies design customization. Modern website builders come with a pretty nice selection of website design tools you can use to give your project a unique and attractive appeal. It is up to you to decide what fonts, backgrounds, layouts, icons, and other design elements to select.
5. Website Design Content Upload
Design customization is an important part of your website creation process. While the “content is certainly the King”. Take your time to create and upload the most suitable content for your website. These may be articles, images, videos, galleries, and other elements you consider essential.
6. Website Design Publication
Finally, your website is ready for publication. Go ahead and bring it online by activating the corresponding button. It takes a few seconds only to make your project accessible on the web. Now that you have an idea of what it takes to create a website with a website builder, it makes sense to proceed with the description of the most popular services you can use for this purpose.
The Best Website Design Platforms
Notably, while launching a new website might not be quite as complex as flying a plane, there are enough variables to warrant a thorough checklist with each launch. As an example, for the Wright Brothers, when they first invented the airplane and were testing it for military use, they found that there were too many crashes. Especially, to find airplanes as reliable as military machines.
In fact, something like 1 in 5 flights ended up failing due to some type of human error. To solve this problem, they came up with the pre-flight checklist and reduced the number of crashes to less than 1%. Similarly, it’s easier to look at a web developer’s description. Thereby, splitting the skills into three areas.
Consider the following:
Client-side languages: Client-side scripting refers to the creation of web applications that execute themselves within the browser of a user’s computer.
Server-side languages: Server-side scripting is a technique that website developers use to build the backend of a website. Why is that so critical for your new site? The end user’s computer (i.e. the person using the website) limits a web browser’s storage.
Database technologies: The final set of skills to look for in a web developer is the database technologies they are familiar with. In order to work properly, every website needs a database to store its code, images, files, and other data.
Here are some examples of Website Design builders and platforms for your consideration.
Wix.com
Wix is one of the most popular contemporary website builders. Its ease of use, convenience, and rich feature set make the service a decent choice for newbies and proficient web designers. Wix is a universal website builder.
Whatever type of website you plan to create, the service will cope with the task pretty well. Your web design skills don’t matter a lot here – the system is easy-to-use, intuitive, and understandable even for users with zero coding knowledge. Wix’s pricing policy is also affordable for users with diverse financial abilities and objectives.
Wix features include and are not limited to:
Editing Options
Wix currently offers two website editing options you may choose from depending upon the available web design skills. Web design pros can use the standard Wix Editor, which allows customizing a website by using design customization tools available in the dashboard.
If your web development skills, however, leave much to be desired, Wix offers its Artificial Design Intelligence tool to help you get started successfully. Wix ADI makes it possible to launch a website from scratch by using the information you provide. It takes several hours to create, edit and publish your website with the service.
App Market
The website builder comes with a set of widgets, integration of which can give your website the required functionality and visual appeal. Among the most popular widgets, you can add to your project. And also, it makes sense to mention Form Builder, Comments and Events Calendar, LiveChat, Wix Hotels, Wix Forum, Wix Restaurants, and many more.
eCommerce and Blogging
With Wix, you can create a full-featured blog and a web store. When it comes to the blogging option, you can add, edit and schedule posts, enable user comments, add a Featured posts section, create a custom feed, activate Facebook comments, add and update image galleries or videos, etc.
If you decide to launch an eCommerce website, you’ll be able to create and update product galleries, use professional web store management features, add multiple payment options, adjust tax and shipping details, etc.
SEO Wiz
With Wix SEO Wizard, you’ll develop a detailed plan for your website promotion. That helps you analyze and detect the available problems with your website SEO. And, boost your site positions in the search engine. Continue reading.
uKIT.com
uKit has won recognition as the easiest small business website builder. The service is simple for beginners, while web design experts like it for its stunning functionality. Whatever web design goals you have, uKit will help you reach them with no special effort and time investment.
The website builder encompasses hundreds of industry-related themes, which are responsive by default. If you still realize that you’ve made the wrong choice, you can change it on the go at any stage of the development process.
The template gallery consists of several categories based on the specialization of themes. These include Games, Automotive, IT Services, Cafes and Restaurants, Weddings, Education, Finance and Insurance, Travel, Photography, and more.
Some of the uKIT features include:
Integration of External Services
uKit allows for the effective integration of third-party services into your website. Some of them include MailChimp, AMO CRM, LiveChat, etc.). They make your website more functional and visually appealing, driving user attention.
eCommerce
You can choose between two eCommerce web building options: an Ecwid plugin and an eCommerce widget. Both options have their advantages, which make it possible to create full-featured online stores almost in no time.
SSL Security
A free connection of the SSL Certificate helps protect your website content and personal information from unauthorized access and confidentiality violation.
Useful Widgets
By integrating uKit widgets, you can notably enhance your website performance. These elements are easy to set up and update. Some of them include Online Calculator (uCalc), Timeline and Stages, Slider, Gallery, Video, SoundCloud, etc.
Mobile View Set-up
uKIT has now made it possible to manually set up the mobile view of your website for smartphones and tablets. It is you, who now defines the way your website will adapt to these mobile devices. It is possible to hide the unnecessary blocks, set up the number of widget columns, change the background of blocks, and do other actions to reach the best mobile view.
Weebly.com
Weebly is a universal cloud website builder, which makes it possible to launch multiple types of visually appealing and functional websites. These are business websites, portfolios, landing pages, online stores, blogs, etc. The service has a drag-and-drop editor, which allows building websites without a line of code.
Weebly cannot boast such a powerful template collection as those offered by Wix or uKIT. As of today, the number of templates constitutes around 60 themes, but the system developers update it when possible. All the templates are responsive.
Some of Weebly’s features include:
Powerful eCommerce Options
The website builder comes with an integrated shopping cart, safe payment options, product preview, and update options, a search filter section, multiple product settings, and Android and iPhone apps. Allowing you to manage the web store any time of the day, CSV file import/export features, and other powerful eCommerce options.
Website Design for Blogging
What you can do here is to add and schedule the posts, select social media sharing options, choose various commenting systems, fill your blog with content, etc. Weebly has a collection of free blog templates that will boost the design of your website.
Website Design Promote Tools
It can automatically generate messages and send newsletters to the members of promo campaigns, create different types of emails and marketing lists, view marketing statistics, etc.
Website Design App Center
Weebly App Center is similar to the Wix App Market. This is the place, where you can find and select applications to create engaging content for your website. Among the apps you can find here, PinPoll, LiveChat, Call-Out-Box, etc. should be the first to mention.
IM Creator.com
IM Creator is a website builder that deserves special attention due to its pricing policy and niche specialization. The thing is that the service has a strong focus on building websites for entrepreneurs willing to establish a powerful web presence for their businesses. It also has nice offers for creatives, who have an idea to launch portfolio websites.
As well as landing pages for a better presentation of their talent. Even though the website structure is mainly formed by using the Stripes and Polydoms Technology, IM Creator still has a pretty impressive collection of responsive templates. These templates also fall into several thematic categories to make the selection process easier and more convenient.
Some of their features are:
Stripe-Based Structure
One of the major distinctions of IM Creator from other website builders is its Stripe-based structure. To launch a website with the service, you’ll have to choose between multiple content Stripes and arrange them on a web page as you need. These blocks harmoniously combine with each other and you can change their positions on a page as many times as you need.
eCommerce Blogging Engines
IM Creator allows the creation of decent web stores and blogs. There are multiple templates you may browse for this purpose. If you wish, you can also select and integrate a corresponding eCommerce Stripe to launch a web store.
Site123.com
SITE123 adheres to the needs of newbies and professionals. With the website builder, you can solve a broad array of universal web building tasks. Whether you plan to create a business website, a portfolio, a landing page, or a blog, SITE123 is a nice solution to cover these web design needs. Being a cloud website builder, SITE123 has a collection of pre-designed templates and layouts.
They are free and responsive. The templates are comprised of modules users may choose from to develop web page designs. For ease of search, the templates are grouped into categories based on their topics. In case you cannot find the template, which comes up to your web design requirements, you can get a blank canvas and create a website from scratch.
Some of their features are:
Website Design Multilingual Support
You can create several language versions of your personal or business website. This contributes to the enhanced result, driving the attention of the foreign audience and potential partners.
Website Design Free SSL/HTTPS
To make sure your newly launched website and confidential information are well protected from unwanted access, you can connect the SSL encryption protocol to it. This will ensure better security and your website protection absolutely for free.
eCommerce Blogging Themes
The website builder can boast powerful eCommerce and blogging engines. SITE123 has special templates for each of these project types and design customization tools to give them the preferred appeal. We’ve tried to answer the most important questions and dispel the obvious doubts related to the process of creating your first website from scratch.
Using The Full Stack Website Design Methods
A Full Stack Web Developer is someone who is able to work on both the front-end and back-end portions of an application. In general, the front-end refers to the portion of an application the user will see or interact with. And the back-end is the part of the application that handles the logic, database interactions, user authentication, server configuration, etc.
According to the Stack Overflow 2016 Developer Survey, Full Stack Web Developer is the most popular developer occupation today. It’s no wonder then that there are dozens of online and in-person programs. Especially, that will help people become more creative, adept, and creative enough as Full Stack Web Developer gurus.
And then even assist these new developers to land high-paying programming jobs. Moreover, as one of the hottest topics for developers, the discussions have never stopped online. For instance, on LinkedIn and Facebook platforms, lots of people put their job title as a full stack developer. Besides, it seems that the “Full Stack Web Development” topic has already become a new job trend.
Some popular online programs can be found on Lynda, Udacity, Coursera, Thinkful, General Assembly, and so much more. Aside from these online programs, there are also in-person coding boot camps. In particular, they are teaching people the skills required to become web developers. Here: Full Stack Web Developer: The 5 Essential Skills in detail.
Takeaway Thoughts:
Looking at the present scenario of the virtual world, there has been a growing demand for full-stack developers. You might be wondering why a company or organization would require a full-stack developer. Well, with transient technology and ever-growing hunger for new and better things, organizations like to hire full-stack development professionals.
As can be seen, a full-stack web development professional is one who is having sound technical knowledge of each and every aspect of development. May it be front end, back end, or various operating systems among other details of the technology. These people are usually termed “developer generalists”.
The significant thing to be noted here is that full-stack developers should not be confused with senior developers. In nutshell, this stack of developers can create any complex application from scratch. As a matter of fact, provided they would have understood how each technical layer should interact with the other.
More Related Resources:
- What are the SSL Certificates?
- HTTP/2 & SPDY (optional)
- Designing Web Applications by Microsoft.
- Best practices for designing a RESTful API. POST/GET requests
- Generalist Developer Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com
Finally, we hope the above-revised guide on website design was helpful to you or even your website development team. But, if you’ll have additional contributions or even questions, please Contact Us. And by the same fashion, you can share your thoughts in the comments section. Also, learn more about How To Plan for a Website Redesign [Full Guide Plus Free Worksheet].
