How can you create a card-based interface using wireframes?

When wireframing a card-based interface, focus on clear content organization. Each card should encapsulate specific information or functionality. Use simple shapes and annotations to convey placement, size, and interaction details for a user-friendly design process.

A card-based interface refers to a design approach in which content is organized and presented within distinct, self-contained "cards." These cards act as containers for individual units of information, typically containing a combination of text, images, and interactive elements. Each card represents a specific topic, concept, or piece of content, providing a visually clear and structured way to display information. Card-based interfaces are commonly used in various contexts, including websites, mobile apps, and digital platforms. They are favored for their ability to present diverse content in a visually appealing and organized manner, making information easily accessible to users.

Cards can be a great help in structuring and differentiating content. Especially in SaaS it's common to use a lot of tables, providing cards as an alternative can be helpful to make it clear you're in a different area and avoid content overwhelm. When you use a card, make sure they are consistent, have a clear function, and aren't overwhelmed with content.

To create a card-based interface using wireframes, sketch rectangles for each card, indicating content. Include key elements like titles, images, and buttons. Arrange cards for a clear layout, ensuring simplicity of design in your information architecture.

When building a card-based interface, each chunk of content has limited real estate to work with. There can be some leeway in responsive sizing, but overall you need to be very careful and thoughtful about your content and layout strategy to make the most of the available space while keeping the design clean, usable, and consistent. In that stage of the design process you don't want to get too caught up in the less important details. Using wireframes rather than pixel perfect high quality mockups or prototypes will help keep the focus where it's needed, rather than getting side tracked on whether the cards have rounded or square corners, and whether or not they need animated transitions.

Often we see things added to cards like "read more" or "click here" to create a call to action for the user to engage with. These prompts are rarely enough information to encourage engagement and are harmful to an accessible experience. Focusing on a clear hierarchy of information with clear links and descriptive text is a better way to encourage engagement and avoid unnecessary information that can be harmful to an accessible experience.

If your card is interactive, make it visually clear that it is that includes hover and focus states. Make sure it's clear what your interactive title should say, as "Read more" may be the visual indicator that it's interactive, but that's not enough for screen readers. Annotate for the developers, what the interactive element is, so the whole card content won't be read out. There are great ways to make a clickable card accessible