Are You Hiring the Right Designer for the Job?
If you’ve ever posted a design job and been flooded with portfolios—only to realize halfway through a project that your designer isn’t quite what you needed—you’re not alone.
The confusion between web design and product design is common. They may sound interchangeable, but these two roles solve very different problems.
Knowing the difference can save you time, money, and a whole lot of friction when building your website or digital product.
Web designers specialize in creating the visual and interactive elements of websites. Their goal? To create a smooth, visually appealing experience that communicates your brand story, guides users toward a conversion, and often supports marketing goals like lead generation or online sales.
Typical deliverables include:
Homepage and landing page designs
UI mockups for marketing sites
Site navigation, page layouts, and responsive views
Collaborating with developers for front-end implementation
Think of a web designer as your go-to for building a high-performing marketing site.
Product designers, on the other hand, design digital tools, apps, and platforms that people use regularly. Their work revolves around usability, workflow optimization, and solving complex user problems.
They often wear many hats—UX research, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborating closely with developers, product managers, and customer support teams.
Deliverables might include:
Mobile and web app interfaces
Feature design and in-app user flows
Wireframes and prototypes
User research reports and usability testing results
A product designer is essential when you’re building a software product, SaaS platform, or mobile app that people will interact with daily.
The core difference lies in intent.
Web designers think like marketers. Their work is centered around telling a story, building trust, and guiding users toward actions—like signing up, booking a call, or making a purchase.
Product designers think like problem-solvers. They map out user behavior, eliminate friction in multi-step flows, and ensure that digital products are not just usable—but delightful and efficient.
Example:
A web designer might focus on creating a visually engaging landing page for your software.
A product designer would focus on the onboarding experience inside that software—making sure users understand how to use it and find value quickly.
You probably need a web designer if:
You’re launching or refreshing your website
You want better conversions on your landing pages
Your goal is brand visibility or marketing-driven lead gen
You probably need a product designer if:
You're building a SaaS product or digital tool
You need intuitive user flows for complex features
Your app requires ongoing UX improvements based on user feedback
And in some cases—like a startup launch—you may need both working together to build the product and the marketing site that promotes it.
The line between web and product design can blur, especially in early-stage companies. Here’s how to clarify your needs before hiring:
List your goals: Are they conversion-based or usability-based?
Map your deliverables: Do you need landing pages or user dashboards?
Check experience: Web designers often have portfolios heavy in marketing sites; product designers will show apps and platforms.
Still unsure? At LevelUp Digital, we help businesses define their needs and connect them with the right design talent—or we manage it all for you under one roof.
When you understand the difference between web design and product design, you stop wasting resources on mismatched hires. You also build faster, launch stronger, and create better experiences—whether you're growing a brand or scaling a platform.
Let’s build something smart together.
We’ll help you define your goals and design a site or product that delivers.
👉 Talk to the LevelUp Digital team