What is a wireframe in web design?

Over my few decades on this planet, having a To-do-list has proven worthy for time, conciseness, and focus in all instances. It brings the mental picture to actions to be taken and at the end help review and checkmate progress rate if tasks were achieved or otherwise. This comes in handy in our circular life, if it isn't about a To-do-list, perhaps it is simply the energy that comes with penning things down; it could be an idea, vision, or what have you. Retention has been confirmed higher with sight than just the thought of it. 

In computing, when seeking a User Experience [UX] a few words come to mind, and Wireframe happens to be one of them. It usually plays a role at the foundation of a website design, helping the designer, developer and other stakeholders have a clearer understanding and direction to the website design. 

This article will afford you clarity on what Wireframe is all about, its relationship with website design, the benefits, the types of Wireframes, the tools used for wireframes, and other exciting scoops. Kindly follow through to the end. 

The wireframe can be said to be the skeletal design or a blueprint of web pages or apps, usually implored with the use of shapes and lines without colors. It is usually an overview of layouts, page structure, functions, and text placement that provides a mental picture of the purpose of web or app pages as the case may be. 

Wireframes could be drawn using a whiteboard and marker, on a piece of sketch pad with the aid of writing material, or digitally using design software for some extra feel. This saves time from back-and-forth correcting the content while giving clarity to all stakeholders before commencing design. 

You may be wondering if it is tantamount every page or web design process must go through this process, well, here are three reasons to meet your thoughts. .They are: 

If it doesn’t cost you time, money or require any special skill to implement, then why can't we have it done? A typical Wireframe can be created with the use of a pen/pencil and a notepad or with the aid of a graphical software like Sketch for a computer-aided effect. 

Having a vision is key to the business owner, and the ability to imagine the website from the eyes of the user is more vital since this helps confirm that the ultimate goal is achieved. Worries of text placement, navigation, and all interface as seen by the user can be envisioned and factored into the implementation. 

Having understood the client’s vision of the app/web project, the Wireframe helps interpret ideas into a feasible pictorial and textual representation which projects the imaginative view of what the concluded website would look like. Should there be a misrepresentation or possible correction, vitals can be tweaked beforehand. 

A standard Wireframe is incomplete without some vitals, they are: 

This type centers on only the basic information and maybe a little rough and poses no accuracy in the grid. It essentially captures only the major information as a sketch to help the stakeholders have a grasp of the project. 

This embraces a little level of accuracy, although still centers on the major information. This finds great to use compared to its others, and it's usually done on software like Sketch or Balsamiq. 

Just as the name implies, this Wireframe provides more information than its peers. It makes use of images where necessary compared to texts and boxes filled with X. This completed Wireframe is usually saved as a template for the web design. 

There is a whole range of Wireframe tools for a smooth journey, here are a few for your consideration. 

In conclusion, a wireframe is an effective tool for good design. A good preliminary design helps the stakeholders collaborate better while providing feedback. If there is anything to take from this article, it should be: Save your time, use a wireframe in your next design. 

For more information on Wireframes, types of Wireframes or Web designer or Web design company, Website Development, Digital Marketing, and SEO, you can always trust The Watchtower, the best and award-winning Dubai and London based Web Development Company.