Is the Web Designer Dead in 2024? How Website Builders and AI Have Changed the Game
Has DIY Tech Made Designers Obsolete?
- Jay McBride
- 5 min read
In 2024, the question is not whether web designers are dead—it’s how their roles have evolved in a landscape filled with website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow. These tools, combined with AI-generated design, have made creating websites easier for non-technical users. But can they really replace professional web designers?
While these platforms have gained popularity, the reality is more nuanced. Custom web design is far from obsolete; in fact, for businesses that require unique functionality and scalability, web designers remain invaluable. Let’s take a look at how things stand in 2024 and explore why web design professionals are still essential.
The Rise of Website Builders and AI Tools
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow have made it easier than ever to launch a website without a developer or designer. Users can drag and drop elements, customize templates, and set up shop in just a few hours. By 2024, these platforms have grown incredibly sophisticated, incorporating eCommerce tools, SEO features, and mobile responsiveness.
AI-driven design platforms, such as Firedrop and Bookmark, are also becoming more advanced. These AI tools can analyze user preferences and design websites accordingly, automating much of the decision-making that used to fall on web designers.
While these solutions have democratized website creation, their limitations become evident as businesses grow. DIY platforms are ideal for small websites but fall short when it comes to customization, scalability, and advanced functionalities.
Where Website Builders Fall Short
Though website builders have improved dramatically, they often hit a ceiling, especially when scalability and customized functionality are required. Platforms like Wix and Squarespace offer hundreds of templates, but businesses that want a truly unique user experience often outgrow these systems.
Take, for example, a medium-sized eCommerce business. Initially, platforms like Wix or Webflow may suffice for handling a small number of products and basic transactions. However, as the business scales, these platforms struggle to handle complex inventory management, custom checkout processes, or personalized user experiences. In fact, one case study from Webflow to WooCommerce found that scaling a dynamic product catalog with extensive custom filtering and discount rules required a migration to a more flexible platform (ELEMENTOR).
In addition, SEO limitations are common in website builders. While most offer basic SEO tools, they can’t match the granular control offered by platforms like WordPress with plugins such as Yoast SEO or Rank Math. WordPress, for example, powers over 43% of the web as of 2024, and its customization for SEO and dynamic content makes it the go-to solution for many companies looking to scale (ELEMENTOR).
Real-World Examples of Builder Limitations
1. Wix to WordPress: Jungle Group’s Story
The Jungle Group, a creative agency, initially launched their website using Squarespace due to its simplicity and quick deployment capabilities. However, as their business grew and they needed more advanced content management and integration capabilities, Squarespace couldn’t keep up. They later migrated to a custom WordPress solution, which provided more flexibility in terms of custom post types, dynamic content, and third-party API integrations. This change allowed them to manage a large volume of content and better serve their clients.
2. Webflow to Custom Shopify: A Growing Retail Business
Another case is a growing retail business that started with Webflow. Webflow’s powerful design interface was ideal for launching quickly, but the platform struggled with the company’s need for complex inventory management and multi-location shipping. Eventually, the business moved to Shopify with custom development, allowing them to scale and integrate their inventory management system seamlessly (ELEMENTOR).
Why Custom Web Design Still Matters
While website builders are sufficient for personal projects or small businesses, custom web design is crucial for businesses that need scalability, flexibility, and uniqueness. Here’s why:
Tailored UX/UI: Custom websites allow designers to create unique, brand-centric experiences. They are free from the constraints of pre-built templates, which are often rigid and lack the flexibility needed to deliver a premium user experience.
Advanced Functionality: Website builders offer limited options for customization, especially when dealing with complex features like membership sites, dynamic content, or API integrations. Custom solutions built on platforms like WordPress or Shopify allow for greater customization of these features (ELEMENTOR).
Performance and SEO Optimization: Speed and SEO optimization are critical for businesses that rely on organic traffic. While platforms like Wix and Squarespace offer basic SEO features, custom-built sites provide better performance, page load times, and advanced SEO optimization, which is crucial for Google’s Core Web Vitals.
Scalability: For businesses that need to scale, whether it’s handling thousands of products in an eCommerce store or managing a large community in a membership site, custom solutions are often the only viable path forward. Shopify and WooCommerce, for example, offer more flexibility in managing eCommerce at scale than most website builders can provide (ELEMENTOR).
The Evolving Role of Web Designers
Far from being rendered obsolete, web designers today are focusing on advanced interactive elements, motion design, and creating more immersive user experiences. As website builders automate more of the design process, web designers are freed up to focus on problem-solving and innovative UI/UX that can’t be replicated by templates.
In addition, as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) make their way into web design—particularly in retail and real estate—there is a growing need for designers who can build these next-gen experiences. These technologies require creativity and a deep understanding of both design and development, which AI and website builders have yet to match.
Conclusion: The Designer Is Not Dead—They’ve Evolved
The rise of website builders and AI has certainly disrupted the web design landscape, making it easier for non-technical users to create websites. However, the limitations of these platforms become evident when businesses grow or require specialized functionality. As businesses outgrow the capabilities of tools like Wix and Squarespace, they often turn to custom development for the flexibility, performance, and scalability they need.
Web designers are not obsolete—they’ve simply evolved. The role of the designer has shifted from simple page building to creating rich, interactive experiences that are both functional and visually stunning. As technology advances, web designers will continue to play a vital role in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the web.