All websites need a mix of both graphic design and interaction design. Too often fervent supporters of these disciplines divide themselves unconsciously and unwillingly in two groups.
Graphic design
Graphic design is a discipline that is focused on the visual communication of information. The design must offer value and meaning to the content. Brochures, magazines, presentation type sites benefit from a good graphic designer. Image conveys feelings and ideas, supports and offers value to the content. The edge of art. A good graphic designer can make your site friendlier, more credible and easier to use. In Stephen Anderson's article for A List Apart, In Defense of Eye Candy, there are a lot of compelling arguments to why this discipline must be recognized as a true factor in a site's success.
Clean typography, grids, color theory are crucial ingredients for good graphic design. But, when combined in a fortunate combination we love the result.
Designers who pick this discipline as their main focus dismiss web sites like craiglists, google or reddit as unaesthetic beasts that have success in spite of their looks. And I've seen a lot of redesigns for these sites, some really great.
Interaction design
Interaction design is the discipline of defining the way something works and how can a user interact with it. Web applications, e-commerce sites base themselves on good IxD. A good design, in this case, must have its seams in the right places and get out of the way. Interaction designers must know how to handle Information Architecture, Human Computer Interaction, Sociology, et cetera.
Designers who think of design as a more interaction oriented discipline, have a more liberal view of their job, not shying away from css tricks or javascript interactions. A true Jack of all trades, a proficient interaction designer will test and measure all important factors, sometimes blindly, sacrificing aesthetics on the altar of false efficiency. Prototyping, wireframing, user stories, user testing all are highly cherished tools, and for good reason.
The toughest thing in web design isn't about aesthetics. It's about problem solving.Jamie Dihiansan.
Ignorance of the other side of the design is high in both camps, and this is a dangerous road. While the web is a new medium these disciplines have been born separated from the beginning. Graphic designers evolved from print design and interaction design spawned from the engineering part of the web. It should not remain like that. Web design has come to a new age, and one cannot ignore the new asynchronous type interactions, the new css properties and canvas. A photoshop design is not enough anymore. Now we must give a new meaning to the word web designer.
The new web designer is not a superdesigner—not the sum of both parts. Traits of both disciplines are necessary: the affinity of the graphic designer, the love of art and beautiful things, the wide knowledge of the interaction designer, the thorough process. This is the way forward.