The difference between web design and web development is becoming a very thin line. It used to be enough to create a nice design and slap it up as a static website.

No longer is that the case.

From CSS (cascading style sheets) to responsive design, the complexity of web design has grown considerably.  Throw in search engine optimization algorithms that are changing daily, as well as competition from millions of websites that launch every month, and web design is no longer a simple science.

A good web designer should know the science behind colors and fonts, optimal conversion formulas for web pages, and how to use HTML and CSS.

A great web designer knows how to optimize meta, create sitemaps, and code flash animation. They should know how to create a mobile-friendly site using responsive design.  Just like commercials have become mini movies for TV, websites need to offer visitors a full experience, complete with entertainment or education value.

In the same way, a web developer can no longer focus on the functionality of the software. Designing an intuitive user interface is equally important to the functionality of the software (as Microsoft learned with Windows Vista).

Its survival of the fittest on the wild web, and only those "Ëœweb design-developers' that are willing to adapt are going to survive.  As a company, make sure you are finding a web design team that has the design talent and the development skills to make sure your site is not only beautiful, it is exquisitely functional, as well.