Why Your Website Designer Is Not Your IT Professional

When you hire a website designer, you're bringing on a creative partner—someone who can help you establish a strong visual identity, create a user-friendly layout, and build a digital space that represents your brand. But one common misconception in the digital world is that a web designer is also your go-to person for all things tech-related—including IT issues.

Spoiler alert: they’re not.

Let’s break down why your website designer isn’t your IT professional—and why that

distinction matters.

Different Fields, Different Skill Sets

Web designers focus on how your website looks and functions from a user perspective.

Their skills include:

• Graphic design

• User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design

• HTML/CSS and sometimes light coding

• Website builders and CMS platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace

An IT professional, on the other hand, handles things like:

• Network setup and security

• Email server configuration

• Hardware troubleshooting

• Software installation and updates

• Cybersecurity and data backups

They may never touch a website, and your web designer may never configure a router or set up your business email server. It’s like asking your interior designer to install your plumbing.

Web Designers Build the House—They Don’t Maintain the Internet

Think of your website as a digital home. A designer plans the layout, picks the colors, chooses the furniture, and hangs the artwork. But when the power goes out or the Wi-Fi crashes, you need someone who understands the infrastructure behind it all—your IT pro.

If your site is slow due to server issues, or your emails aren’t coming through because of DNS settings, your designer might be able to spot the problem, but not fix it. That’s a job for IT.

Clarity Saves Time (and Frustration)

It’s natural to go to the person who built your website when anything tech-related goes wrong. But understanding where their responsibilities begin and end helps avoid confusion and delays. If your email isn’t working, your site won’t load, or your files won’t sync—those are IT issues, not web design problems.

Instead of assuming your designer is ignoring you or doesn’t know what they’re doing, it’s more likely they’re outside the scope of their expertise—and they’re probably trying to point you toward the right person.

Who Should You Call?

Here’s a quick guide:

Problem	Call Your Designer	Call Your IT Professional
Need a new homepage layout	✅
Want to update colors or fonts	✅
Website won’t load due to server issues		✅
Email not working or bouncing		✅
Need help designing a logo	✅
Wi-Fi, printer, or hardware issues		✅

Final Thoughts

Both website designers and IT professionals are essential to your digital success—but they play very different roles. Your designer helps you show up online, while your IT pro helps keep your digital systems running smoothly. Knowing the difference means less frustration, better communication, and quicker solutions.

So next time something breaks, ask yourself: Is this a design issue or an IT issue? Your team will thank you.

Need a design update to your website? How about a new logo? This is something we can definitely help you with. Contact Purple Lilac Digital Media for all of your design needs today!