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Key Takeaways
- A web graphic designer, who combines web design and graphic design skills, is advantageous for creating a website that is both functional and visually appealing.
- Graphic designers focus on creating visuals, while web designers provide functionality; the one you should hire depends on whether you need design, structure, or both.
- Hiring remote designers provides cost-effective solutions, making it a smart choice for businesses needing reliable and skilled web and graphic designers.
Building a website isn’t as simple as picking a color scheme and hitting "publish." A great website has many moving parts. It needs to look good, function well, and reflect your brand in a way that makes people stick around. That’s why choosing the right designer matters more than most businesses realize.
But here’s the tricky part: Do you need a web designer or a graphic designer, or should you hire a web graphic designer who can blend both skills?
This article breaks down the differences, helps you figure out who’s right for your goals, and shows you where to find the talent. When you get this choice right, your site works better—and your business does too.
Web Designers vs. Graphic Designers: Understanding the Difference
When you're building a website, it’s easy to get caught up in flashy visuals and stunning graphics. But there’s more to the picture than just how your site looks. Web designers and graphic designers play different roles, and knowing which one you need is key to your success.
There are many components to a website beyond just graphics and web copy. There are also databases, hosting servers, and page optimization.
Web designers focus on the layout, structure, and functionality of a website, and their work requires technical skills. You’ll need a web designer if you need to make sure that your site works well across devices, is easy to navigate, and is user friendly.
They’re the ones who design how everything flows, from the homepage to the navigation menu to the forms customers fill out. Essentially, they make sure your site isn’t just pretty but is also functional and effective.
For the visual aspects of your site, you would hire a graphic designer to make sure your branding and imagery are on point. They work on elements like logos, images, color schemes, and typography to make sure your website reflects your brand and catches visitors' attention.
While graphic designers may create beautiful, visually effective designs, they typically don’t focus on the technical side of things like usability or responsive design.
A stylish workspace featuring a laptop and monitors displaying design software
What Is a Web Graphic Designer? And When Should You Hire One?
A web graphic designer blends the skills of both a web designer and a graphic designer. This hybrid role bridges the gap between functionality and aesthetics. They care not only about how a site looks but also about how users interact with it. Web graphic designers leverage their design prowess and expertise in layout, color palette, buttons, icons, typography, and image selection to create visual experiences and design functional websites for optimal performance and user friendliness.
This kind of designer is especially useful when you need a website that’s both polished and practical. Think of situations where you’re launching a new product, rebranding your business, or building a content-heavy site that needs strong visual consistency.
A web graphic designer can take on the structure of the page and the visual storytelling at the same time, which can save time and help avoid disconnects between different creatives.
While a typical web designer focuses on things like wireframes, navigation, responsiveness, and usability, a web graphic designer concentrates on the visual appeal and personality of the site as well. They bring in design elements that support your branding and make your site feel cohesive.
On smaller projects, one person might do both roles. However, for larger or more complex builds, especially those with ecommerce features or a need for detailed visual assets, these roles are often split.
Essentially, when the visual side of your website matters just as much as how it works, a web graphic designer can be the right person to call.
Choosing the Right Designer for Your Business
Choosing a designer starts with considering your business objectives. Are you launching a brand-new website, redesigning an existing one, or completely overhauling your branding?
Each of these goals requires a different approach, so it’s essential to match the right designer to your needs.
- If you’re launching a new site, you’ll likely need a web designer who can handle everything from the layout to the functionality. They’ll focus on making sure your site is easy to navigate, mobile friendly, and responsive.
- If your goal is to create a site that’s not only functional but also represents your brand’s identity, a web graphic designer may be the best fit. They’ll balance both the structure and the aesthetics, making your branding shine while keeping the site fully functional.
- For a redesign, the focus shifts. You need a designer who can evaluate your current site and improve it. A web designer is an ideal choice for enhancing usability and making the site work better via optimization. However, if your redesign is more about fresh visuals, such as a new logo or color scheme, you might need a graphic designer or a web graphic designer to handle the branding side of things.
- When it comes to a full rebrand, you’ll need a graphic designer to create your visual assets, like logos and typography. However, if you need those visuals to integrate seamlessly into a new website, a web graphic designer can manage both the branding and the functionality.
In short:
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If your business is looking to scale, hiring a graphic designer remotely could be a great option. Remote hiring offers flexibility and often comes with lower hiring costs, making it ideal if you're looking to expand while managing costs. This option allows you to tap into a global talent pool without compromising on quality.
If you’re planning on a remote hire, make sure they have experience managing projects across different time zones and platforms.
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Where to Find and Hire the Best Web or Graphic Designer
When it comes to finding the right web or graphic designer, you have several options. Let’s walk through the different ways you can find the talent you need.
Freelance platforms vs. agencies
Freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are great places to start your search for a designer. These platforms let you browse through portfolios, check reviews, and hire freelance designers based on your specific project needs.
They offer flexibility in terms of budget and project scope and size, making them ideal for smaller to medium-sized tasks. One downside is that there's a chance that you could develop a bit of decision fatigue with so many design professionals to choose from. This can make it tough to find the right designer without going through several potential candidates first.
On the other hand, agencies can provide a more structured approach. They typically have a team of professionals who can manage different aspects of your design project.
If you need a full-service team that handles everything from design to project management, an agency might be your best bet. While agencies are often more reliable and organized, they also tend to be pricier.
Remote hiring and offshoring
One of the biggest advantages of modern hiring is the option to hire remotely, which gives you access to skilled professionals beyond your immediate geographical area.
Hiring an experienced designer from another part of the world (offshoring), for example, can allow you to tap into a global talent pool that’s often more affordable than local hires. The cost benefits are clear, especially if you’re open to working with designers from countries with lower living costs.
However, remote hiring doesn’t come without its challenges. Communication can be tricky due to time zone differences and potential language barriers.
When hiring remotely, especially if you’re working with designers in different time zones, it’s important to have clear, effective communication. Use tools like Slack or Zoom or project management platforms like Trello or Asana to stay on top of tasks. Be upfront about deadlines and expectations, and make sure you’re both on the same page.
Platforms and agencies to explore
If you’re ready to dive in and find the right web or graphic designer, here are a few resources we’ve created to check out:
- Best websites to hire graphic designers: A helpful guide to the top platforms where you can find talented graphic designers.
- 25 best graphic designer recruitment agencies in 2025: A hand-picked list of agencies that specialize in recruiting graphic design talent.
- Hire the right web designer: A deep dive into platforms along with essential steps for hiring a skilled web designer.
Final Thoughts
Web designers, graphic designers, or web graphic designers—understanding each role is key to making an informed decision for your business. Each role brings something unique to the table, and knowing which one you need can help your website reach its full potential.
When it comes to remote hiring, nearshoring to Latin America (LatAm) is a smart move. It’s especially smart if you need multiple roles or a hybrid designer who can do both web and graphic design to bring your vision to life. You get all the benefits of remote hiring with the added bonuses of working in your time zone and saving costs.
And that’s exactly how Near can help.
We take the time to understand your business and website needs, then connect you with web designers and graphic design talent in LatAm. No hassle with freelancers. Just cost-effective, reliable talent.
If you’re not sure what exactly you need, book a free consultation with us. We’ll chat about your goals, get to know you, and find the right talent for your project quickly and efficiently.
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