Areas of expertise in the web industry: A client’s guide

Have you always wondered about the difference between a web designer and web developer? Do you find job titles like “content strategist” and “information architect” confusing? The web industry is made up of professionals with a broad spectrum of skill sets, and you might encounter a variety of these experts during the website production process. This guide will help you get an idea of who might be handling the various aspects of your web project.

Creative director

Typically helps develop the creative direction of the project based on client needs. Supervises the design process and provides necessary feedback to designers.

Web designer

Responsible for creating the visuals of a website, such as color scheme, layout, and graphical elements. Generally starts off a project, creating design samples to be approved before moving on to the development process.

Front-end developer

Transitions the design into code, focusing on layout, style, and interactivity. Front-end developers’ work will often overlap with that of a web designer and require various design decisions.

Web developer/programmer

Focuses on the back-end of a website, implementing advanced functionality and features. Web developers generally have limited involvement in the design process.

Project Manager

Usually the link between the client and production team, requiring an understanding of the needs on both sides. Responsible for the planning and management needed to guide a project to completion.

Content creator

Responsible for developing and writing content. A content creator should be able to create catchy, user-friendly content that is marketing-centered and matches the tone of the company’s brand.

SEO (search engine optimization) specialist

Focuses on optimizing a website to rank highly in search engines. Analyzes content and analytics data to improve search engine performance and increase website traffic.

UX (user experience) designer

Analyzes and improves the way users interact with a website, generally through various methods of research and user testing.

IT specialist

Generally responsible for any network/server related issues. Little to no involvement in the design and development process.