Web Developers are computer programmers that specialise in the coding, design and creation of websites and applications that run within web browsers, either on a computer or mobile device. They answer clients’ business needs by translating the design requirements and desired functionality of websites into the code that delivers them. They consider user experience with a level of graphic design and programming.
Programmer; Coder; Front-End Developer; Back-End Developer (depending on which area they specialise).
Web Developers are computer programmers that specialise in the coding, design and creation of websites and applications that run within web browsers, either on a computer or mobile device. They answer clients’ business needs by translating the design requirements and desired functionality of websites into the code that delivers them. They consider user experience with a level of graphic design and programming. Web Developers can specialise in either Front or Back-End Development. Front-End Developers work with the visible parts of the website that users interact with, coding everything from fonts and colours to drop-down menus and sliders. Back-End Developers build and maintain the technology that powers the behind-the-scenes links to servers, databases and other websites and applications. Sometimes developers acquire cross-disciplinary knowledge and experience to offer the full package of Front and Back-End skills, when they become known as Full Stack Developers.
Web Developers have often gained a good university level qualification in a technical or design-related subject such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Business Computing, Physics, Software Engineering, Animation, Graphic Design, Interactive Media or Computer Games Design. Alternatively, they may have gained considerable independent computer programming experience, possibly even self-taught. In either case, knowledge of some programming languages is essential.
Web Developers can progress to more senior web development roles. They may become Full Stack developers normally overseeing larger or more complex projects before some eventually become Technical Director or CTO for their agency. Others may transition into roles such as User Experience Design, Web Design Management or Content Management, while many choose to work in a freelance capacity for a variety of agencies on specific web development projects.
All three roles are about problem solving, communication, and people. And each one has a different focus on design.
UX design stands for User Experience design.
The UX Designer focuses on the “behind the scenes” side of design. To create the app, website, software, or service. UX design focus includes design and user research, information architecture, interaction design, usability testing, and content strategy.
The UX designer focuses on the user or customer to really understand their habits, needs, behaviours, motivations, and emotions. They work to deeply understand the problem and who they are designing for in order to prototype and iterate on solutions.
UI design stands for User Interface design.
This is typically the visual or graphical side of design. Some UX designers will also do some UI, but other UX designers will only go as far as research and wireframes.
UI designers will develop knowledge of graphic design, strong typography, colour theory, photo direction, vector manipulation, and, possibly motion graphics. A Senior UI Designer may progress to become an Art or Creative Director with a clear, visual, vision for the product or brand.
A web designer may be a graphic designer who works on the web and has developed skills to create a good looking website or app. The difference between them and a UX designer is that they tend not be so focussed on the core human centred approach of UX design.
A UX designer keeps a lens on how people think, and what motivates them. They may be more iterative in their approach as they integrate continuous developments as part of their design approach.