Web Designer or Web Developer: Which One Do You Need?

designer vs developer You may have discovered Solamar because you were looking for a WordPress web design company or a WordPress web development company. Many clients who come to us simply aren’t aware of the distinction between web design and web development and tend to lump the two together, using the terms interchangeably, as if they are one and the same.

If you don’t know the difference, or you’ve never considered it, you’re not alone. But web design and web development are two distinct skill sets; and if you run a small business with specific needs, it’s important to understand why you may need only a designer, only a developer, or more likely both.

You don’t want to hire a designer when you need a developer, or vice versa. And if you need both, you should avoid hiring a professional or a team lacking adequate skills in either area of the website building process. The lines between design and development are often blurred; but as a small business owner with a big vision and limited resources, it’s critical for you to know what you’re getting into. Continue reading →

woman-791874_640 I love being a graphic and web designer! It allows me to dwell at the intersection of art and business in a way I find deeply satisfying. I get to flex my creative muscles and provide a service that many small businesses are desperately in need of, all at the same time.

For most businesses, I know that time is money, and that arriving at a brand that “feels right” is essential to the future success of that brand. However, the businesses I work with don’t necessarily spend a lot of time with creative types. Sometimes, even if they have a clear vision of what they want, they have trouble communicating that vision to the designer, often simply because they don’t know the right kind of information to provide, or the right questions to ask. Occasionally, they know they need “something better,” but their vision of what that means specifically for them is murky.

That “feels right” quality I mentioned earlier is a highly subjective thing. Even if you are communicating clearly, it can take time to hone in on what’s best, as your designer adjusts what “feels right” to them in order to meet what “feels right” to you. And if you aren’t sure what you want, then finding the right feel is difficult at best.

The good news is, whether you know what you want yet or not, you can cut down on how many revisions are necessary in order to achieve your desired result by carefully considering what you are looking for in advance, providing appropriate info when you begin working with a designer and remaining open to the iterative process that the back-and-forth nature of design entails. Continue reading →