Website wireframe

A website wireframe (also "web wire frame", "web wireframe", "web wireframing") is a basic visual guide used in interface design to suggest the structure of a website and relationships between its pages. A webpage wireframe is a similar illustration of the layout of fundamental elements in the interface. Typically, wireframes are completed before any artwork is developed.

Uses of wireframes

Wireframes allow for the development of variations of a layout to maintain design consistency throughout the site. This is an important part of the initial development stage because it creates user expectations and helps develop familiarity with the site.

Creating a set of wireframes for a project also acts as a way to communicate with clients and stakeholders such as content creators, engineers, and developers. Over the course of a project the wireframing exercise functions as a stable base on which to consider changes, diverse user paths, and new requirements. The information architect and information designer typically use the wireframes as a meeting of the minds and as solid working documents on which to establish the language, content, and structure of interactions users will have with a given site or project.

The creation of wireframes also helps to define the positioning of global and secondary levels of navigation in a prominent and intuitive position, as well as providing an area for utilities such as helpful information and search facilities. Generally, it is after creating wireframes that branding is later applied to the site to communicate the identity and personality of the site.

Wireframes can range from simple structural drawings of the site to high-fidelity simulation of the navigation, which have movements, functional links and complex interactions. For simple drawings, Paper prototyping is the most common technique, but it's becoming increasingly common to use software for more complex projects.. The most used programs for Lo-fi wireframing are Visio, Balsamiq, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and OmniGraffle. Hi-fi wireframing tools include Justinmind Prototyper, Axure, OverSite and Irise.

External links

• Wireframes Magazine