“So, what do you do?”

That’s a simple question but hard to answer, right?

Personally, the way I answer depends on who is asking the question. Do they have any sort of tech background? Will they understand the type of work I do, or do they come from a completely different industry? Is it really something I want to get into? These are all things I consider before I reply.

I usually keep things super simple by saying “I build websites”. However, sometimes I’ll go a little deeper and say that I’m a web designer/developer.

This, my friends, is where I usually lose people. And if we’re being honest, it’s for good reason!

Most people aren’t familiar with how a website is made - they just know that it gets “built”. In reality, a website is a combination of web design AND web development. Sometimes the entire process can be done by one person (like me!) but depending on the complexity of the project it may be completed by several different professionals.

Today we’re going to break down the difference between web design and web development so that we’re all clear on the different roles and responsibilities that go with both parts. Whether you’re interested in starting your own project or hiring it out to someone else, this will give you a better understanding of what’s involved.