What is a Wireframe?

One of the first steps in building a home or commercial space is creating a blueprint of what the structure will look like. This foundation is the same way in which wireframing tools works for a website. Wireframes are simple, black and white layouts that outline the position and layout of page elements, site features, and navigation for your website and serve to give clients a better idea of what their website will eventually look like. Continue reading to see how wireframes play a key role in the web design process here at LAB Digital Creative.

1

What is a wireframe?

Similar to an architectural blueprint, a wireframe is a 2D skeletal outline of a website. A wireframe is a means to give a rough overview of page structure, information, layout and functionality as well as intended user behavior and experience. At this stage, a wireframe is usually devoid of styling and color as it represents initial concepting.

2

What is the purpose of a wireframe?

A wireframe serves a couple different purposes. 1) It ensures that the client and the designer are on the same page, specifically in terms of accomplishing the business’s goals and marketing objectives. 2) It provides design direction in terms of the layout of information and hierarchy/structure. 3) It ensures that the website design will be user-focused. Too many websites are created from the point-of-view of the business without considering the primacy of what the viewer needs to see. 4) The wireframe also helps to clarify and define the functionality of the website. 5) Wireframes are easy and quick to create, so creating one before spending the time to develop a full, high-definition design makes sure time is well spent. Plus, changes and revisions to the Wideframe are easier and cheaper to make at this stage.

3

At what stage of the website design process does wireframing take place?

When working with a client, a web designer will present a wireframe after initially discussing the parameters, business requirements and goals of a new website, and then identifying a site map (list of pages and their hierarchy). At this stage, the idea of how the website will be laid out is coming together, and the wireframe makes that further defined.

4

What happens after the wireframe is presented?

After the website designer presents the wireframe to the client, the designer will talk through the document with the client, and then leave the client to sit with the plan for a few days. After several days, the client will provide feedback to which the designer can incorporate and make revisions—or the client can approve the wireframe as presented. This collaborative process ensures that the client gets to provide input and knowledge, and helps guide the designer into a website design that truly serves the client’s needs..

As you can see, wireframes play a critical role in the process of designing and creating a website. At LAB Digital Creative, we want the process of building your site to be as seamless as possible, and providing a wireframe helps to ensure the process moves along smoothly.

Have questions about wireframes or are you ready to start your next web design project? Get in touch with us today.