Web design is the creative side of website building. It focuses on how a site looks, feels, and interacts with visitors. A web designer’s job is to ensure that the website is aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and optimised for a great experience across all devices.
A well-designed website isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about creating an intuitive and engaging experience that guides users smoothly through the site. Designers carefully consider elements such as layout, colour schemes, typography, and navigation to ensure a visually appealing and functional website.
A professional web designer works with:
Web designers rely on:
Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch – For wireframing and prototyping.
Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator – For creating custom graphics and UI elements.
CSS & HTML – Basic coding to structure and style the design.
While web design is all about how a website looks, web development is about making that design functional. Web developers take the concepts and layouts created by designers and bring them to life using code. They ensure that buttons, animations, forms, and other features work as intended.
Front-End Development (Client-Side)
Front-end developers focus on the part of the website that users interact with. They use technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the visible elements of a webpage, ensuring that it functions properly across different browsers and devices.
Back-End Development (Server-Side)
Back-end development deals with everything happening behind the scenes. It involves databases, servers, and applications that process and store information. Developers use programming languages such as PHP, Python, Node.js, and SQL to handle user authentication, data storage, and overall website performance.
Full-Stack Development
Full-stack developers have expertise in both front-end and back-end development, allowing them to build entire websites from start to finish.
Neither web design nor web development is necessarily better than the other; they simply serve different purposes. If you need a beautiful, user-friendly website, web design is crucial. If you require advanced functionality, such as a login system or a custom e-commerce solution, then web development is essential.
For a truly effective website, both disciplines must work together. A visually appealing site that lacks functionality won’t convert visitors into customers, while a technically robust site with poor design may drive users away.
For those interested in technical web development standards, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides extensive guidelines on best practices in coding, accessibility and responsive design.
Not always. Some professionals focus solely on design, while others specialise in coding and functionality. However, some individuals and agencies, like Uniswell, offer both web design and web development services. These professionals, known as full-stack developers, have the skills to design and build websites from scratch.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a fundamental part of front-end web development. Although some web designers use basic HTML for structuring content, it is primarily used by developers alongside CSS and JavaScript to create fully functional websites.
Web design and web development are two sides of the same coin. While designers focus on aesthetics and user experience, developers ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Understanding the difference can help you decide which skills or services you need when building a website.
At Uniswell, we offer both professional web design and expert web development to ensure our clients get the best of both worlds. If you’re looking for a website that not only looks fantastic but also performs flawlessly, we’d love to help.
Web design focuses on the look, feel, and user experience of a website. It involves creating layouts, colour schemes, and typography using tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.
Web development involves coding the website to function properly. Developers use languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP to build the site and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Neither is better—they serve different purposes. If you want a visually appealing, user-friendly website, you need web design. If you need complex functionality, such as logins, databases, or an online store, web development is essential.
Yes, but it’s uncommon. Some professionals, called full-stack developers, can handle both design and development. However, most specialise in either design (UI/UX) or development (front-end/back-end coding).
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a fundamental coding language used in web development. However, web designers also use HTML to structure content before adding visual elements with CSS.
It depends on your needs:
We believe that a great website is more than just pixels and code—it’s a powerful business tool. Based in Dorset, we specialise in web design, development and digital marketing to help businesses stand out and grow online.
We’re here to make growing your online presence as smooth and stress free as possible. Whether you’re looking for a standout website, reliable hosting, or a full digital strategy, we’d love to hear from you.
Empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions to inspire, connect, and grow.
