A web designer plans and creates the structure, appearance and user experience of a website. The job normally includes page layouts, navigation, responsive design, typography, colours, calls to action and the way content is presented.
Many web designers also build the finished site, configure a content-management system, support search optimisation and help with hosting or maintenance. The exact service varies, so ask what is included before hiring anyone.
What is a web designer?
A web designer is responsible for how a website looks and how people use it.
The role combines visual design with practical problem solving. A good designer considers what the business needs to communicate, what visitors are trying to achieve and how the website should guide them.
Web design is not simply choosing colours or adding attractive images. It includes:
- Information hierarchy
- Page structure
- Navigation
- Readability
- Mobile layouts
- Accessibility
- Brand consistency
- Conversion paths
- Trust signals
- Interface behaviour
A page can look polished and still fail if visitors cannot understand the offer or find the next step.
What does a web designer do day to day?
The work changes across a project.
At the start, a web designer may:
- Meet the client
- Review the existing website
- Understand the audience
- Define project goals
- Gather content and brand assets
- Review competitors
- Plan the site structure
During design, the work may include:
- Creating wireframes
- Designing page layouts
- Choosing type styles
- Building reusable components
- Preparing mobile versions
- Selecting or editing imagery
- Planning calls to action
- Presenting concepts to the client
During the build, a designer who also develops websites may:
- Build templates
- Configure WordPress or another platform
- Add content
- Optimise images
- Create forms
- Add basic animations
- Test responsive behaviour
- Connect analytics and other services
Before launch, the designer should test the website, correct faults and make sure the agreed pages and features work.
After launch, the role may continue through maintenance, content updates, performance reviews and design improvements.
What is the difference between a web designer and a web developer?
A web designer focuses mainly on layout, appearance and user experience. A web developer focuses mainly on the code and technical systems that make the website function.
The boundary is not fixed.
Some web designers can build complete WordPress websites and write front-end code. Some developers have strong design skills. Larger agencies may separate user-experience design, interface design, front-end development, back-end development, copywriting and SEO into different roles.
A developer may handle:
- Databases
- APIs
- Account systems
- Custom applications
- Complex ecommerce logic
- Server-side code
- Integrations
- Security architecture
A designer may handle:
- Page hierarchy
- Visual identity
- Interface components
- Responsive layouts
- Prototypes
- Typography
- Image direction
- Usability
For a standard small-business website, one experienced professional may cover both design and implementation. For a complex platform, a team is usually more appropriate.
What should a web designer deliver for a client?
The deliverables should be written in the proposal or scope.
A normal project may include:
- Discovery or planning
- Sitemap
- Wireframes or design concepts
- Agreed number of pages
- Responsive website build
- Contact forms
- Content population
- Basic on-page SEO setup
- Analytics installation
- Browser and device testing
- Launch support
- Training
- A defined revision allowance
Clarify who provides the copy, photography, logo, legal text and product data.
Also clarify ownership. The business should understand:
- Who owns the domain
- Who controls hosting
- Which software licences are required
- Whether the design or code can be moved
- Whether maintenance is compulsory
- What happens if the relationship ends
- Which ongoing fees apply
A low quote can become expensive when essential items are excluded.
Does a web designer write the content?
Some do. Others require the client to provide final copy.
Copywriting is a separate skill, but design and content should be planned together. A layout filled with placeholder text can fall apart when the real content arrives.
The strongest process either writes the content first or develops the copy and design in parallel.
At minimum, the designer should challenge unclear content and make sure the page answers the visitor's main questions.
Does a web designer do SEO?
A web designer should understand the foundations of SEO, including:
- Crawlable navigation
- Page structure
- Heading hierarchy
- Page speed
- Mobile usability
- Image optimisation
- Titles and descriptions
- Internal links
- Redirects
- Indexing controls
- Structured content
That does not mean every designer provides an ongoing SEO campaign.
SEO also includes keyword research, content planning, link acquisition, local visibility, reporting and continuous improvement. Ask whether the proposal includes basic launch SEO, a full optimisation project or ongoing work.
How much does a web designer cost?
The price depends on the size and complexity of the project, the designer's experience and what is included.
A simple template-based site can cost hundreds of pounds. A carefully planned small-business site may cost several thousand. Bespoke ecommerce, integrations or applications can cost much more.
Compare scope rather than headline price.
A £600 website and a £6,000 website may both have five pages, but differ in research, copy, design, testing, technical quality, support and commercial value.
Ask for a written breakdown and examples of comparable work.
What are the signs you need a web designer?
You probably need professional help when:
- The current website looks dated or unreliable.
- Visitors do not understand the offer.
- The site performs badly on phones.
- You cannot update it safely.
- Enquiries are poor despite receiving traffic.
- Services have changed but the site has not.
- The brand has outgrown a template.
- Search engines cannot access important pages.
- You need integrations or custom functions.
- You have no time to build it properly.
You may not need a designer for a temporary one-page idea, an internal prototype or a simple hobby project.
How do you choose the right web designer?
Review their actual work and ask how they approach structure, content, mobile design, SEO and support.
A useful conversation should cover the business rather than immediately selling a package.
Ask:
- Who will do the work?
- What is included?
- What is excluded?
- How are revisions handled?
- What content is required from me?
- What platform will be used?
- Will I own and control the site?
- What happens after launch?
- What ongoing costs should I expect?
Avoid choosing only on the homepage style of the designer's own website. Look for evidence that they can solve the type of problem you have.
Elendil Studio combines planning, design and implementation for practical business websites. Explore our web design service, view our work or contact us to discuss your requirements.