Creating a Cohesive Relationship Between Web Design and Web Development

Web design and web development are both essential components of any web project, but often handled by different people in a team, or even entirely different teams. This can make coordinating the different responsibilities held by web design and web development difficult in any project. Unfortunately, rivalries can erupt in relationships between the website designer and the web developer as their interests in the web project conflict. It is important, however to seek out the similarities in the website designer and developer's jobs to construct a cohesive relationship.

Neither web design nor development is a more important discipline than the other. Indeed they are both completely essential and rely on the other to be successful. While web page design is often thought of as wholly concerned with aesthetics, and web development with the technical side of a project, both need to consider alternative factors to be truly successful. The web designer needs to consider the matching of form to function and the web developer's job is actually quite creative in terms of finding new ways to build the website.

It is advantageous then, for the web designer and developer to gain some understanding of the other's trade. A website designer who has some knowledge of the intricacies of code and the technological opportunities and limits it offers will not only be able to better communicate with a web developer, but also become a better designer, with a greater understanding of their medium. Similarly a web developer who keeps up to date with web page design trends and has learned the fundamental design principles will have a better appreciation for the designer's contribution and understand when compromises need to be made. Collaborating in this way will lead both experts to discover that their respective disciplines both share values, such as efficiency.

Ultimately web design and development are used concurrently to create the same website, and the fact that the eventual goal is the same must be kept in mind throughout any project. Both the website designer and developer are working to create a website that functions well and is attractive to the user. The web project can be considered as one living entity, with web page design and development holding together the various, essential parts, such as technology, content, and visual elements. Viewing the web project in this way will keep the web designer and developer focused on developing their separate projects to harmonise with the actual content and subject matter of the website.