What Is a Web Designer Developer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A web designer developer combines the responsibilities of a website designer and a website programmer into an all-inclusive position. In this role, your duties are to design a website by planning its overall concept, from its color scheme to its layout, and then develop the site by writing the code that makes your design come to fruition online. To become a web designer developer, you need expert knowledge of website coding languages like HTML, CSS, and PHP as well as design and graphics-making skills using programs like Adobe Photoshop. Web designer developers may work part-time or full-time for organizations to create and maintain their websites, or they can work on a freelance basis designing and coding websites for clients.

To become a web designer or developer, you need to learn aspects of both design and development principles. This includes what works from a visual and auditory standpoint for end users, who have certain expectations about color schemes, functionality, and page layout. Web developing, on the other hand, is the coding and programming that underlies the design. You need to learn HTML5, Javascript, Perl, PHP, and several other languages. You should then create a few websites to use as a portfolio to demonstrate your skills. Your duties as a web designer/developer are to ensure the website stays functional and make changes as required. You don’t need formal qualifications to start your career, but it does help to get a bachelor’s or an associate degree in web design or web development.