Form and function: The difference between a web designer and a web developer

form and function come together in the Alessi tea kettle
The marriage of form and function are easy to spot in industrial design products, like the Whistling Bird tea kettle by Michael Graves for Alessi, a top seller in the company’s history.

“What is a blog ?”

“What does a developer  ?”

Why do I need a designer if I have a developer ?

The quick snapshot: A designer make your site communicate clearly through color, image, typography and layout. A developer makes it function on all levels using his fluency in all the coding languages.

As with all design, the marriage of form and function in the final product is what makes it ultimately appreciated, embraced and even cherished. In terms of good web design, this translates into visitors who

  • click through the homepage and around the site
  • purchase a product
  • share your content with their friends and colleagues
  • sign up for your newsletter or mailing list
  • subscribe to your blog or RSS feed

A good website design can increase user engagement, sales, interaction, and the overall word of mouth marketing to your business. -Joe Britton.

It’s easy to think about the harmony of form and function in other areas of design, like furniture, architecture and industrial design. Who does not want a handsome chair in her living room that is comfortable, sturdy but also attractive, inviting and a postive reflection of her tastes.

Sacrificing design over development or vice versa will create the need for a website redesign in almost every case.

Notes

Website Designers and Developers, by Joe Britton, Sugar Ventures, LLC on BusinessInsider.com

Alessi has a phenomenal showcase of ordinary household (functional) products that designers have transformed and elevated. Another favorite is the designer Karim Rashid, whose distinctive self-defined “sensual minamistic” look emanates through even the simplest objects, but who never sacrifices essential functionality.