In answering this question it helps to look at the overall creation of a website and the processes involved.
The term 'web design' still in common use, is something of a misnomer. 'Web creation' seems to be a better term and it involves three distinct processes.
- The design of the ‘look and feel’ of the site or the ‘UI’. This is often (and best) done by someone with artistic or graphic design skills, but with an appreciation of what is possible on the web. This is the real ‘design’ activity.
- The translation of this design into a functioning page template, using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. A process known as ‘front end’ development. An increasingly complex task given the rise of the mobile web.
- If required, coding in a server-side language of dynamic functionality, possibly with a connection to a data source of some sort. The process of ‘back end’ development.
Now obviously there are many scenarios where two or even all three of these are handled by the same individual but these are still the processes involved and all require skill, experience and appropriate tools for the technologies involved.
It’s clear from these processes where Expression Web sits, as a ‘front end’ development tool and therefore aimed at ‘front end’ developers, not ‘designers’ as such.
It also follows that as a tool for this EW needs to keep up to date with the technologies involved, something that sadly hasn’t happened. Nor does Microsoft offer any other solution for front end development.