The Worldwide Fully Automated WEB

Tools and AI are reducing — but not eliminating — the role of humans in web design and development

- REENA GHOSH

Web design and development is one of the most dynamic domains in the IT industry today. It has grown exponentially in recent years and spawns new trends every year. Some of the latest trends are Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), responsive web design, AI chatbots, voice search optimization, Progressive Web Apps (PWA), Content Management Systems (CMS), and motion UI.

Most users consume web content and transact online on mobile devices, and these trends are a reflection of that reality. Changes in web development are driven mainly by the evolution of internet-enabled consumer devices, AI, changes in consumer needs and behavior, and commercial goals.

In recent years, there has been a proliferation in different types and forms of consumer devices. Alongside the ubiquitous smartphone, we now have smartwatches, glasses, fitness wearables, smart TVs, and other devices. Increasingly, consumers are looking for scalable and secure web apps with lots of features, with customization and enhanced usability.

Web design refers to the visual representation of a client’s ideas and requirements, and the definition of the user interface. A web designer creates a website’s layout, aiming for both aesthetic appeal and optimum user experience. Web designers also need to understand search engine optimization.

A web developer (or programmer) builds a live interactive website or application based on this layout. There are front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers. In 2020, a web designer’s role is not always entirely distinct from a developer’s role. More and more web designers are learning programming in order to handle parts of design implementation, and developers are honing their user experience design skills.

How the website sausage gets made