Many people will say building a house starts from the foundation. In the real sense, it starts with the architectural design. A lot more mental effort goes into building a house than we imagine. The architectural design might not be as big or tangible as the house itself, but it will give the owner a vague idea of what to expect and what not to expect.
The architecture of a Website or App is the Wireframe. It is a sketch of how solutions, features, and elements are placed in a UX Design without extensive details. A wireframe collects all the UX Processes before giving them to the UI Design for the users to get started with. Think of it as a rough sketch that helps visualize the layout and user flow before diving into design specifics.
“Wireframes are a quick way to asses if the design concept you have in mind is something your entire team can align on”— Anthony Fernandes, Head of UX at YellowSlice.
Types of Wireframe
The types of wireframes are based on the level of detail, accuracy and precision.
1. Low-Fidelity Wireframes: These are usually the first visual description of a design. They are the simplest representation of a design, and they focus on its structure. Many designers use them in the ideation phase to visualize their features and solutions. They can be created manually with a pencil and a drawing sheet or digitally using design software like Figma.
For example, a lo-fi wireframe for an E-Commerce Website would contain dummy texts, a search bar, product categories and a CTA.
2. Mid-Fidelity Wireframes: This is one step closer to the design. It contains more descriptive elements for proper visualization and for the stakeholders to grasp the concept of the design. It also helps them review and give constructive feedback for the final design. Depending on the design team, it uses grayscale or different shades of white and black and might even contain real images. It can only be drawn with digital tools.
- High-Fidelity Wireframes: These are clear descriptions of the final design. In fact, most designers use them as the final design for production or launch and then iterate as they grow. Due to their interactive elements and definitive UI elements such as colours, images, distinct fonts, etc, high-fidelity wireframes are suitable for user testing. They are also used for client presentations and developer handoffs.
Why should your brand/ Product have a Wireframe?
Wireframes are as important as the design itself and, thus, should not be excluded from the design process.
- It lays the foundation for a good UX: Drawing a wireframe allows designers to focus on the main reason why the design is needed— the user’s need. It puts the designer in the user’s perspective to see how the user will use the features.
- It makes development easy: The lo-fi or mi-fi wireframe helps the frontend developer to structure their codes easily without the interference of heavy UI elements. They also get a hang of the design as fast as possible, speeding up the process.
- It gives other teams an idea of the customer journey: Wireframes give non-designers an immersive opportunity to start and finish the user journey. They get to see and review the design as users and as part of the design team. This will help them discover areas for improvement and corrections.
- It removes the aesthetic bias while making UX Decisions. Starting with the actual design can be confusing due to so many considerations. The designer might have many options that are not relevant to the users. So, a wireframe prevents all the mental stress of looking for the perfect design. It lets designers focus on UX and Usability solutions.
- It contributes to building a strong brand Identity. A wireframe is also used to enforce consistency, which is very important for maintaining your customer’s loyalty.
- Helps in Content Visualization: Wireframes explain the roadmap for how information will be arranged logically and easily for users to navigate. This visual representation aids in identifying potential gaps, redundancies, or areas where content can be enhanced for maximum impact.
The Limitations of Wireframe when It Comes to User
A wireframe is good for the design and the designer but might not necessarily help the user unless it becomes a near-ready design.
- It is not a test of UX for users because of how vague and unattractive it might be perceived. It is just an idea board for the designer, and the idea is still in process, so there is no way it will make sense to the user.
- A wireframe can misrepresent data and just be based on a designer’s idea.
- Focusing on structure over content can lead to an excellent, well-layered design with little to no logical description.
- It is not designed with interaction in mind, so if the design is completed but has a little interaction problem, it might as well render the wireframe redundant.
It is important to note that while users are at the end goal of the design, it doesn’t mean the wireframe is directly for them. It is just to guide the designer in meeting their needs.
How to create/build Wireframes for your Product
Unlike UI Design, which has strict rules and principles, Wireframes are largely based on the designer’s discretion. However, a good design will show through its wireframes. Here are things you should consider knowing or having before designing your wireframe.
Basic Understanding of Wireframing
You should understand what wireframes are used for, like communicating ideas, testing layouts, and saving time in the long run. You should also draft the purpose of your wireframe to guide you so you will not go out of context. The purpose of your wireframe and design will set the environment for ideation.
Have a list of your solution Elements/Features.
After the user research and competitive analysis, you should have a list of five to seven features you want to implement. It is okay if you have more than seven; that’s when you go to the stakeholders(Clients or other teams involved). Their opinions will help you narrow down your solution.
If there are still many ideas on the ground, you can choose to divide them on the basis of priority and importance. The focus will be on important and urgent ideas; other solutions or features can come during subsequent iterations. However, you want to do it; it’s your choice, the aim is to get something short and crisp to work with.
For example, The list for a fashion-tech design can be something like this:
- Size recommendation
- A VR feature for virtual try-on
- Social integration, especially Instagram
- Virtual fashion coach
- Thrift/Resale Marketplace
- Sustainability in production, etc
However, it is impossible to add all of these features at inception. You can tone it down to the basic things users want; it could be a Size recommendation, a virtual try-on, and a thrift Marketplace.
Choose a tool
Now that the ideation is out of the way, you want to choose a tool. The important thing here is how comfortable you are using the tool. There is no perfect tool; the user makes it a perfect tool. If you are starting with a lo-fi, the go-to item should be a pencil and paper. An alternative can be a whiteboard and marker; the idea is to draw something.
Some lo-fi settings allow for digital tools, but some designers have argued that this might stifle their creativity. So, you have to consider what will allow your creativity to bring out something unique.
Start with Low-Fidelity
This is a no-brainer; you just have to start from scratch, except you are looking at delivering rather than prioritizing your users. Lo-fi is supposed to be simple, so it allows you to try many variations with minimal effort.
The simplicity has also made it cost-effective to collaborate and experiment with different concepts. Feedback is much appreciated here, as it would be easier to incorporate than in a high-fidelity model.
The aim of a wireframe is a structure; you cannot get that easily with hi-fi if you have to test and experiment with different options. It will take time and drain your energy before the main design begins.
Collaborate with other teams and iterate
Design is not a one-person work, and the designer is not an island. The tech eco-space has made it so that it is impossible to have an idea and develop it all by yourself for people. There is a need for collaboration so as to create products that are useful and usable by people.
Working closely with other important teams, such as the business and development teams, ensures the wireframe is feasible, aligns with technical constraints, and meets user needs. It also opens the ground for communication and a feedback loop. It gives you access to a plethora of ideas and “how we might”. So, you can give your design the best chance to be a good product by collaborating.
Tools for Wireframing
Here is a list of wireframing tools you can consider.
- Pen and Paper
- Whiteboard and Marker
- Figma
- UXPin
- Miro
- Adobe XD
On to the design…
The Wireframe is out of the way; the design process is about to get a lot easier. The ease will depend on how your wireframe is. A well-thought-out wireframe serves as a solid foundation for a visually appealing and user-friendly design. It will provide a clear roadmap for designers and developers, ensuring that the final product aligns with user needs and business objectives.
Do you need expert guidance on designing a wireframe? We offer service packages that include wireframing as a part of the design process. Your product deserves a treat to make it distinct in the industry. Let us help you bring your vision into reality.
FAQs On Wire Frames
1. Should I design a wireframe for SMEs?
When we talk about wireframes, it is not about the size of the business or target users. It is about the value and effort you have to give to satisfy your users. This might seem excessive for small projects or businesses, but it is not unimportant.
2. How detailed should a wireframe be?
It depends on the stage of wireframing you are starting with. Ideally, a low-fidelity wireframe d
oes not need extensive detailing, such as copies, buttons, colours, etc. So, a wireframe should be as simple as possible to ensure stakeholders understand your thought process easily.
3. Is wireframe only for websites?
No! As far as it is a human-computer interface, a wireframe is needed. It can be mobile apps, tablets, smartwatches etc. The wireframe will be useful for mapping out user flows and interactions on the various devices.
A wireframe focuses on the structure and arrangement of content, while a mockup adds more depth to the design. Wireframes are designed at the beginning to lay a foundation for the design, while mockups provide a realistic representation of the product. It is just like adding finishing touches to a house, such as decorating the window pane, planting flowers and other interior designing.
