GETTING TO KNOW WIREFRAMING!

What Is Wireframing?

As it is known to all of us what is the structural frame that supports our body? Indeed, the skeleton! An architect draws a blueprint of any building that represents its look. Similarly, wireframing in UI/UX design is one of the decisive steps which helps to give a visual skeleton of any digital application.?

It is essentially a low-fidelity sketch that demonstrates what elements should be on key pages. It is an outline or layout or the bare bones of the key elements of a design.?

A wireframe is a two-dimensional picture interface of the page. Therefore, it does not include any styling, graphics or colour.

Fidelity is the visual representation of a sample version of a final product that conveys its look- and- feel of it.

When to be created

Wireframes are formed in the design phase of the design thinking process. These are important to create before proceeding to the next stage. Designers collaborate on ideas as per the stakeholder’s requirements. They analyse and test, the feasibility, accessibility and scope of the product. Thus, a wireframe builds the beginning point for the product’s design.

A wireframe answers some of the main key points

• Where elements should be put on the page?
• What will be displayed on the user interface?
• How users will interact with it?
• What changes can be done to get the best user experience?

What is the need for a wireframe?

Integrating feedback: Wireframes are effective communication strategies that help clients, and stakeholders go through the design for quick access-

• To check whether that particular design meets their expectations or not.
• To fix if something is missing.
• To explore available arrangements to have a look at how the user interface would be.

?User Testing: An early stage of user testing conducted helps the designer

• To get real feedback.
• In identifying key pain points.
• To confirm or deny different design choices that will help to set up and mature the product concept.

Quick, cheap and easy to create

The best part of wireframing is that it is cheap to form which becomes the stair to the final destination.?

Types of Wireframe

Low fidelity (Lo-fi) wireframe is the first and simplest type of wireframe which is the physical hand-drawn sketch. It is made simply using paper, pen and markers. Or, it can be drawn digitally using a variety of tools. They are usually black and white or sometimes grey in colour; without any image or design effects like a shadow.

Mid-fidelity wireframe is closer to the destined final UI design. It is an elaborated form of low-fidelity design. It might show images and is a more detailed visualisation of what is intended for the layout. The interaction between the pages is clearer.??

High-fidelity (Hi-fi) wireframe is closest to how the UI design will look finally. It may include actual featured images, icons, colours, fonts, buttons and backgrounds.

Wireframe tools?

There are several wireframe tools available. Have a look at some of them

• Adobe XD
• Miro
• Mockplus
• Wireframe.cc
• Figma
• Pencil Project
• Mockflow
• Marvel
• Fluid UI
• Invision Freehand
• Balsamiq

Until now, we understood how a paper and pen wireframe can lead to the layout and navigation of the product key pages. We also apprehended how a wireframe enables us to get the approval of the user, client and stakeholder. Now we have developed a better cognizance of what a wireframe is and how it looks in the actual world.

Let us put our ingenious feel of creativity in the form of some lines and shapes and reach the final destination. Don Norman is well-articulated in his words as?

“User-centered design means working with your users all throughout the project.”?