Which of the Following Is Not Related to Web Design?

“Web design” gets tossed around a lot. Somewhere between the coding, the branding, the content, and even the ads—people tend to assume it’s all part of the same thing. But here’s the truth: web design is just one part of a much bigger digital puzzle.

And getting clear on what it does not include? That’s where the real clarity begins.

What Web Design Actually Covers

At its core, web design is all about how a site looks and how it feels to use.

It’s about the structure of the layout. The colours. The typography. The imagery. Whether the navigation feels clunky or smooth. Whether things adapt beautifully on a phone or fall apart.

Great web design doesn’t just “look pretty”—it helps people find what they need, fast.

Done right, it:

• Builds visual trust
• Guides user flow with intention
• Balances white space and content
• Adapts across devices
• Creates consistency across the brand

The key? No friction. No second guessing. Just a smooth, intuitive experience.

What Isn’t Web Design (Even If It Feels Like It)

Here’s where the lines get blurry. These areas often get lumped into the web design bucket, but they actually belong somewhere else entirely.

1) Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO and design work closely, but they’re not the same. Yes, good design helps SEO performance. Fast loading speeds, clean mobile layouts, and logical heading structure? All contribute to better rankings.

But SEO goes deeper. Way deeper.

• Keyword strategy
• On-page meta optimisation
• Backlink building
• Technical audits

That’s all handled by SEO professionals, not designers. This matters, especially when 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine. Visibility relies on strategy—not styling.

2) Content Writing

A common misconception: the web designer writes the words. But the truth is, design handles how content is presented, not what is being said.

Things like:

• Blog posts
• Product copy
• Calls-to-action
• Headlines

These come from content writers or marketing teams. That said, design and content are tightly linked. Adobe found that 59% of users prefer beautifully written content on beautifully designed sites. It’s a partnership, not a crossover.

3) Web Development (Coding)

This one trips up even the pros.

Design sets the blueprint—the visual mock-up. Development builds it into functioning code.

Think of it this way:

• Design: What the kitchen looks like
• Development: The pipes, wiring, and structure behind the walls

4) Digital Marketing

Another one that gets looped into web design? Digital marketing.

That includes:

• Running paid ads
• Managing SEO dashboards
• Building email flows
• Tracking campaigns

Design supports these efforts visually, creating landing pages, banners, or lead gen forms. But marketing strategy? That belongs to the marketing team.

Still, design plays a big role. A report shows that businesses prioritising design are 69% more likely to exceed their goals. So while design isn’t doing the marketing, it’s definitely helping it work harder.

Why It Matters to Get This Right

Mixing up roles leads to wasted time, mismatched expectations, and half-baked results.

When a business hires a designer expecting them to “just handle the SEO while they’re at it”, no one wins. The site looks fine but doesn’t rank. Or it ranks but feels clunky to use.

Specialists exist for a reason. Let designers design. Let marketers market. Let developers code.

When everyone sticks to what they’re good at, the whole thing just runs smoother. The end result feels more focused, more deliberate, and it actually works.