Wireframe vs mockup vs prototype for the best design flow
Nataly Palienko
Before any line of code is written, there is the pre-development design phase every project usually goes through. That’s when wireframes, mockups, and prototypes are created.
Mockup vs prototype vs wireframe is a subject that needs clarity, as it is seen differently by designers and clients.
There’s a common misconception that you can easily craft your design omitting a stage or two. We’ve created tens of thousands of designs and want to present our vision of the wireframe vs mockup vs prototype subject. So let’s elaborate on what wireframes, mockups, and prototypes mean and how they make design pixel perfect.
Source: tapptitude.com
What is a wireframe?
Simply put, a wireframe is a draft or a sketch by a designer. The purpose of wireframes is to show the structure of an application with basic elements and content placement. This structure helps developers see the functional side of the app. Designers can bring order to scattered ideas and present them schematically. Wireframes serve as a foundation for a website or app.
What does a wireframe consist of?
Wireframes show the logic of a website or app. They present the product at its inception stage and consist of:
boxes or circles
lines
text
Below, you can see a screenshot of clickable wireframes we created for one of our clients. The wireframes are for an eLearning website that helps users pass a driver’s license test in California. We used Axure, a special design tool, to create wireframes.
You can also check out these interactive wireframes for a social app we created.
When to use wireframe architecture
You can use wireframes when you want to:
discuss ideas or concepts
show the structure of pages
see how related pages work together
see how information will be presented on individual screens
mimic interface behavior
visualize the general layout of a website or app
prepare a detailed project requirements document
test usability within your team to adjust your product
What is a mockup design?
The next step after wireframing is creating a mockup. A mockup transforms the schematic layout into a colorful, static representation of the future product. With mockups, you can see shapes, fonts, and the color palette. Sometimes, you can even see content instead of dummy text. The main difference between wireframes and mockups is that mockup user flow doesn’t skip details; on the contrary, they’re all about details, giving the feel of an actual app and showing how elements go together.
Before any line of code is written, there is the pre-development design phase every project usually goes through. That’s when wireframes, mockups, and prototypes are created.
Mockup vs prototype vs wireframe is a subject that needs clarity, as it is seen differently by designers and clients.
There’s a common misconception that you can easily craft your design omitting a stage or two. We’ve created tens of thousands of designs and want to present our vision of the wireframe vs mockup vs prototype subject. So let’s elaborate on what wireframes, mockups, and prototypes mean and how they make design pixel perfect.
Simply put, a wireframe is a draft or a sketch by a designer. The purpose of wireframes is to show the structure of an application with basic elements and content placement. This structure helps developers see the functional side of the app. Designers can bring order to scattered ideas and present them schematically. Wireframes serve as a foundation for a website or app.
What does a wireframe consist of?
Wireframes show the logic of a website or app. They present the product at its inception stage and consist of:
boxes or circles
lines
text
Below, you can see a screenshot of clickable wireframes we created for one of our clients. The wireframes are for an eLearning website that helps users pass a driver’s license test in California. We used Axure, a special design tool, to create wireframes.
SOURCE: STEELKIWI.COM
You can also check out these interactive wireframes for a social app we created.
SOURCE: STEELKIWI.COM
When to use wireframe architecture
You can use wireframes when you want to:
discuss ideas or concepts
show the structure of pages
see how related pages work together
see how information will be presented on individual screens
mimic interface behavior
visualize the general layout of a website or app
prepare a detailed project requirements document
test usability within your team to adjust your product
What is a mockup design?
The next step after wireframing is creating a mockup. A mockup transforms the schematic layout into a colorful, static representation of the future product. With mockups, you can see shapes, fonts, and the color palette. Sometimes, you can even see content instead of dummy text. The main difference between wireframes and mockups is that mockups don’t skip details; on the contrary, they’re all about details, giving the feel of an actual app and showing how elements go together.
What are the components of a mockup?
With a mockup, you shape the way your app will look like. A mockup may include:
buttons
text bars
content layout
colors and graphics
typography
spacing around components
navigation graphics
other visual parts
Here’s a collection of website mockup examples we created for one of our projects. We experimented with layouts and colors in Sketch, a popular piece of website mockup software, until our client approved the designs.
You can use an architecture mockup when you want to:
decide on the product’s color scheme, visual style, and typography
experiment with the look of the product
present the user interface to stakeholders and potential users
be confident about your design
decide on your brand identity
What is a prototype?
A prototype is a high-fidelity interactive manifestation of the final product. Even though prototypes aren’t put into code yet, they look like actual applications. Users can easily interact with prototypes and test the user flow.
What are the main features of prototypes?
A prototype should be as similar to the final product as possible in order to model the user experience. Therefore, a prototype should:
connect all elements in an interactive flow
be a basis for new insights
encourage further development
be a testing and learning tool
Here’s an example of a prototype for an ecommerce website we created. Below, you can see how a user can scroll through items, choose a dress they like, view details, and place an order.
gather valuable feedback on usability from users and stakeholders
perform A/B testing
After discussing prototypes, wireframes and mockups individually, let’s see how they’re connected.
How do wireframes, mockups, and prototypes orchestrate the design process?
All three stages ― creating a wireframe, prototype and mockup ― should find a place in your design process. Don’t underestimate the importance of every prototype, wireframe, and mockup, since they’re your foundation to build on.
When you come to a development team, you have an app idea in mind. But it’s your idea, in your mind. You need to convey this idea to your developers and designers. The first thing they should do once you tell them about your product is turn your idea into wireframes ― a language that helps designers translate your idea into designs and lets developers understand the app’s architecture and the best coding solutions.
Your application should acquire structure over time and gradually translate into a mockup. At this stage, you get to finalize your design and see how structural elements turn into buttons, graphics, and content layouts. But the work isn’t done yet.
Ultimately, this leads to prototyping. With a prototype, you get to walk in your users’ shoes. You get to feel what it’s like to interact with your product.
Design process at Steelkiwi
At Steelkiwi, designers pay special attention to clickable wireframes, interactive mockup samples, and prototypes. Over the years, we’ve come up with a scheme that lets our clients win over the development time and resources and build meaningful products for users. We’ve learned by experience that successful design can only be achieved if you’re willing to go the whole way from wireframes to mockups to prototypes without skipping anything. This leads to an optimal app design that doesn’t require costly rework down the road.
To begin, we create wireframes that let us understand the structure, user flow, and core interactions in the website or app. Because we link the pages and screens, our clients get a visual and functional representation of their product at an early stage.
We usually hold demo meetings where we show the flow to our clients. We also share links to wireframes so our clients can test them on their own. This mean both we and our client can follow the user journey. What’s more, this keeps us from getting lost among all the pages and screens later, during development.
Once our client approves the wireframes, we focus on mockups, which represent the UI part of the project. Building mockups is the stage where our designers give the structure a pretty face. The detailed structure of wireframes makes the work of our UI designers easy and helps our clients save time and resources.
Again, we want to be sure that our clients like our design solutions. When clients tell us we’re good to go, we create high-fidelity prototypes using Sketch UX prototyping software. These prototypes closely resemble the final product. Clients can interact with their website or app via a link in Invision and can even perform testing to understand how effective the product is.
Below is a table that highlights the essence of each method in the design process.
WIREFRAME
MOCKUP
PROTOTYPE
Fidelity
Low-fidelity
Mid- to high-fidelity mockup
High-fidelity
Main traits
Schematic
Static
Interactive
Focus
Conceptualization
Visual design
Functional design
Used for
Building app architecture and logic; documentation; initial visualization
Branding; experimenting with design
User testing; building confidence prior to coding
Tools
Axure or Sketch
Sketch
Sketch + Invision or Flinto
Cost
$
$$
$$$
Time
1+ weeks
1+ weeks
Several weeks or months
By building your design from wireframes to mockups to a prototype, you save money and time. It’s easier to change the logic and structure at the wireframing stage than at the prototyping stage. If you make changes later on, they will affect your design, code, or even business logic.
Steelkiwi advice: Don’t skip anything. Take a step by step approach; otherwise, every mistake or change will cost you development time and resources. Once you’ve set in stone your design and UX, put them into code with confidence, knowing that your product is pixel perfect.
Push your design process to the forefront
If you’re creating a project from scratch, there’s no way you can skip design. Be on the safe side and go with wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Your risk of getting things wrong will be lower and your chance of developing a high-quality product will rise.
We’re in the business of saving our clients’ time and money. We speak through well-designed consistent visuals and if you need a team to design and build your product, contact us!
Most of the Mobile App Development Companies in India are in process of creating all three designs before proceeding towards actual development in the lure to save substantial cost, time and effort. All of these make sense and bring you a step closer to the actual design. For more information- https://bit.ly/2GG40mAwireframe
Software/app development initiatives benefit from prototypes: Visualization You can use a prototype to build software. An MVP can be produced for 10–15% less than the total cost of a full-fledged product during the development stage. Here are some further justifications for choosing MVP development:Idea Validation MVPs allow you to test your core idea with real users early. Get early user feedback on functioning and experience: Which features stand out? Let reputable pros assist you in determining whether you should construct a prototype or a minimum viable product.
Creating a website is important, but it is even more important to have a clear plan for the website designing before everything.
The more you plan, the easier it is to make decisions.The different stages of website designingDefine the website planAnswering some basic questions and refining them into a plan is an important process in understanding the web-site’s objectives and requirements.Sketch out your website mapA website map is a desperately needed tool for planning and designing web sites.
You can get a pictorial representation of your website architecture by sketching out a sitemap as it helps in creating coherent navigation paths for users to follow through the website.Make your wireframe prototypeWireframes are fundamental line drawings that allow you and your client to focus on the layout of the website.
Read the Full article: Plan your website before you start building it
In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deep into the realms of PoC vs Prototype vs MVP, exploring their unique purposes, characteristics, and when to use each. We'll also examine the comparisons between PoC vs Prototype vs MVP. When to Choose PoC vs Prototype vs MVPChoosing the right stage depends on several factors:Risk Tolerance: High-risk projects may require a PoC before proceeding. ConclusionIn this ultimate guide, we've explored the critical stages of PoC vs Prototype vs MVP and their unique roles in product development. Your Unique Journey: PoC vs Prototype vs MVPYour product development journey is unique, and the choice between PoC, prototype, or MVP depends on your idea, goals, and resources.
A wireframe is a skeletal framework for conceptual ideas in the design and development landscape. We have listed the top tools that improve the design and development process. However, digital wireframing apps offer simplicity, speed, and easy sharing. Moqups boosts the creation of designs like flowcharts, wireframes, sitemaps, graphs, and mockups. Figma, a potent cloud-based alternative to tools like Sketch, stands out with its inclusive features, even for free users.
These tools offer a variety of features and functionalities to help with the construction of wireframes for online and mobile applications. Latest Wireframe ToolsAdobe XDAdobe XD is an advanced and extensively used design and prototyping tool for creating dynamic and user-centric experiences for web and mobile applications. It has a comprehensive range of design tools, such as vector editing, grids, and guides, for precise and flexible layout construction. Finally, Figma’s wireframe tool provides designers with a robust and collaborative environment for developing complex wireframe designs. Integration and compatibility: A robust wireframe tool should be compatible with other design tools and platforms, allowing for fluid workflows and quick asset and design import/export.
Every business needs parts that can be quickly produced and accurately assembled, and prototype machining services by Tirapid can help. Let’s take a closer look at how prototype machining services can help your business. The Benefits of Prototype Machining ServicesThe benefits of using prototype machining services are numerous. Whether it is prototype milling, prototype turning or prototype grinding and polishing, tirapid can quickly and efficiently provide services to produce your prototype parts. Contact us today for more information about our prototype machining services!
The advantage of the surface mounting process over the through-hole board is that you can create more compact prototype circuit boards that are able to perform more advanced functions. Some context should be included with your Prototype circuit board documentation too. With prototype PCB fabrication, procedural testing and prototyping of your design at an early stage is critical. You must also ensure that you use the appropriate specialized software to design your prototype circuit board. A good relationship with a reliable, high quality PCB contractor is essential for the creation of high quality circuit boards.
MVP is the first version of the product which possesses only core functionality to reach the business goal.POC can be determined as a small project created for testing the important hypotheses before the actual development process.Prototype, in its turn, is defined as a working model of multiple aspects (unlike the POC approach, where only one function is implemented).
Most frequently prototyping is used for demonstration of a particular part of the system and detecting any malfunctions.To gain more information about these approaches please read the article Minimum Viable Product (MVP) vs Proof of Concept (POC) vs Prototype — Main Differences and Benefits
Here's the step-wise guide of On-Demand App Development Business Consultation: Your on-demand app requirements are processed by senior consultants.Wireframe Conversion: The processed requirements are converted into a final wireframe.On-demand App Development: Developers of StartupMart build your on-demand application from scratch.Testing & Bug Fixing: Upon completion, your on-demand app goes through rigorous conformance tests.Deployment : Your on-demand app is launched on the Google Playstore and Apple Store.Maintenance: Post-sale technical assistance and maintenance support.
Being reputed on demand app development company, Startupmart extends warm hands for on-demand startups that help customers access what they want and deliver the services at doorsteps or digitally.
If you are also planning to launch a new product or solution in the market, it is important to have a proper plan.
It is the best way to come up with creativity and helps developers to get new innovative ideas.
Different Types of Prototypes 1) Functional/ Proof of Concept It is the foremost step of the prototype development process.
This process clears at the very initial stage that your idea will work out and it focuses on the different aspects such as look, feel, and material.Undoubtedly, in this step, developers have to put in more effort and focus as it is the foremost step and even the reflection of the final product.
The presentation based prototype provides the precise look of the product, it focuses on the look and feel of the product.
This process helps to take the decision in the initial stage of the development process and also bring confidence about the product among investors, manufacturers, potential customers.
Prototyping in industrial design helps bridge the gap between the initial concept/design plan and the final design response. A prototype depicts the design concept and allows designers and experts to conduct hands-on research, providing opportunity for problem-solving adjustments and validation. The industrial prototype design service comes into play in this instance. Prototyping plays a critical role in shifting from the concept/design phases to the production/manufacturing phases. Choose the exemplary prototype design serviceYou will have to choose the right service provider offering the best prototype design for your ideas considering all these needs.
PCB Prototype UK - Quick Turn PCB Fabrication & Turn-key PCB Assembly Service On PCB COMPANY.
Your Only Source for High Quality And Complex PCBs From Dual to Multilayer.
Full PCB Manufacturing, Prototype Assembly, PCB Fabrication and More.
Making the ideal design for an app or website from the beginning is simple and intuitive with the best wireframing tool. Learn more about what makes 500apps MockFrame the best wireframing tool in this post. The Best Wireframe Tool for Designing is Here: MockFrameThe greatest wireframing tool is this one because it provides all the necessary functionality. We go into more detail about a few of the factors that make the 500apps MockFrame programme the greatest wireframing tool below. Despite being a web-based tool, 500apps MockFrame has powerful editing tools if you have internet.
Since 1958 china has there first computerized numerical control machine made from Tsinghua university, it starts a new era in the Chinese heavy machine industry.
However, due to the limited technology at that time and the beginning of economic and industrial recovery from world war two and civil war, Chinese CNC manufacture are still under the research and development stage and mainly focus on services for the military or aerospace industry only.
And the transition from manufacturer outsources base to prototyping capability starts when China becomes the world’s largest automotive industry country.How rapid prototyping starts from the automotive industry?In 1990, China has become the largest automotive manufacturer(fig1.1).
The demands of CNC prototyping for mechanical parts of automotive and headlight that involve in plastic injection molding from local china due to the cost-saving and time reducing are rapidly increasing every year, it triggers the supply of CNC industrial and reaching 62 billion US dollar capital in 2014.
The quality of products from the CNC machine also improved drastically as the speed and tolerance also enhanced, which is the two most essential standards in the CNC machine prototype industrial.
all the above tolerance achieve by implementing the Technology of ball screw pair, hydrostatic guide, linear rolling guide, and magnetic suspension guide.
Fortunately, making a prototype today is easier and more cost-effective with prototype services from China. Reputable rapid prototyping companies use modern and proven manufacturing methods like CNC machining, injection molding, 3D printing, and vacuum casting to produce a tangible version of your design. Here are some: Lower product development costs Rapid prototyping can help bring concepts to life efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively. Based in China, our prototyping company offers the efficiency and caliber that your project requires. We offer rapid part manufacturing solutions online across China through our core services, including sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, rapid tooling, rapid injection molding, vacuum casting (urethane), FDM 3D printing, SLS 3D printing, and SLA rapid prototyping.
It is a very rough representation of all the ideas.
Sketches can be done on paper with a help of a pencil, and it is actually the preferred way because of the overwhelming amount of options in digital tools that might get on your way, and you might end up deciding what is the best line/font/shape to use instead of thinking about the core ideas.
But you are free to choose some digital tools, but it is easier to create a sketch on paper.
By simply outlining the main elements and ideas you will be able to quickly show your suggestions on the structure of the future app to all stakeholders.
The details should be omitted, you will have time to focus on them later.
When all features and main elements are presented on paper and you continue developing them on a more profound level, the rough sketches turn into detailed sketches, and they now can be called wireframes.
These tools offer a variety of features and functionalities to help with the construction of wireframes for online and mobile applications. Latest Wireframe ToolsAdobe XDAdobe XD is an advanced and extensively used design and prototyping tool for creating dynamic and user-centric experiences for web and mobile applications. It has a comprehensive range of design tools, such as vector editing, grids, and guides, for precise and flexible layout construction. Finally, Figma’s wireframe tool provides designers with a robust and collaborative environment for developing complex wireframe designs. Integration and compatibility: A robust wireframe tool should be compatible with other design tools and platforms, allowing for fluid workflows and quick asset and design import/export.
Making the ideal design for an app or website from the beginning is simple and intuitive with the best wireframing tool. Learn more about what makes 500apps MockFrame the best wireframing tool in this post. The Best Wireframe Tool for Designing is Here: MockFrameThe greatest wireframing tool is this one because it provides all the necessary functionality. We go into more detail about a few of the factors that make the 500apps MockFrame programme the greatest wireframing tool below. Despite being a web-based tool, 500apps MockFrame has powerful editing tools if you have internet.
Every business needs parts that can be quickly produced and accurately assembled, and prototype machining services by Tirapid can help. Let’s take a closer look at how prototype machining services can help your business. The Benefits of Prototype Machining ServicesThe benefits of using prototype machining services are numerous. Whether it is prototype milling, prototype turning or prototype grinding and polishing, tirapid can quickly and efficiently provide services to produce your prototype parts. Contact us today for more information about our prototype machining services!
Since 1958 china has there first computerized numerical control machine made from Tsinghua university, it starts a new era in the Chinese heavy machine industry.
However, due to the limited technology at that time and the beginning of economic and industrial recovery from world war two and civil war, Chinese CNC manufacture are still under the research and development stage and mainly focus on services for the military or aerospace industry only.
And the transition from manufacturer outsources base to prototyping capability starts when China becomes the world’s largest automotive industry country.How rapid prototyping starts from the automotive industry?In 1990, China has become the largest automotive manufacturer(fig1.1).
The demands of CNC prototyping for mechanical parts of automotive and headlight that involve in plastic injection molding from local china due to the cost-saving and time reducing are rapidly increasing every year, it triggers the supply of CNC industrial and reaching 62 billion US dollar capital in 2014.
The quality of products from the CNC machine also improved drastically as the speed and tolerance also enhanced, which is the two most essential standards in the CNC machine prototype industrial.
all the above tolerance achieve by implementing the Technology of ball screw pair, hydrostatic guide, linear rolling guide, and magnetic suspension guide.
The advantage of the surface mounting process over the through-hole board is that you can create more compact prototype circuit boards that are able to perform more advanced functions. Some context should be included with your Prototype circuit board documentation too. With prototype PCB fabrication, procedural testing and prototyping of your design at an early stage is critical. You must also ensure that you use the appropriate specialized software to design your prototype circuit board. A good relationship with a reliable, high quality PCB contractor is essential for the creation of high quality circuit boards.
Fortunately, making a prototype today is easier and more cost-effective with prototype services from China. Reputable rapid prototyping companies use modern and proven manufacturing methods like CNC machining, injection molding, 3D printing, and vacuum casting to produce a tangible version of your design. Here are some: Lower product development costs Rapid prototyping can help bring concepts to life efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively. Based in China, our prototyping company offers the efficiency and caliber that your project requires. We offer rapid part manufacturing solutions online across China through our core services, including sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, rapid tooling, rapid injection molding, vacuum casting (urethane), FDM 3D printing, SLS 3D printing, and SLA rapid prototyping.
MVP is the first version of the product which possesses only core functionality to reach the business goal.POC can be determined as a small project created for testing the important hypotheses before the actual development process.Prototype, in its turn, is defined as a working model of multiple aspects (unlike the POC approach, where only one function is implemented).
Most frequently prototyping is used for demonstration of a particular part of the system and detecting any malfunctions.To gain more information about these approaches please read the article Minimum Viable Product (MVP) vs Proof of Concept (POC) vs Prototype — Main Differences and Benefits
Here's the step-wise guide of On-Demand App Development Business Consultation: Your on-demand app requirements are processed by senior consultants.Wireframe Conversion: The processed requirements are converted into a final wireframe.On-demand App Development: Developers of StartupMart build your on-demand application from scratch.Testing & Bug Fixing: Upon completion, your on-demand app goes through rigorous conformance tests.Deployment : Your on-demand app is launched on the Google Playstore and Apple Store.Maintenance: Post-sale technical assistance and maintenance support.
Being reputed on demand app development company, Startupmart extends warm hands for on-demand startups that help customers access what they want and deliver the services at doorsteps or digitally.
It is a very rough representation of all the ideas.
Sketches can be done on paper with a help of a pencil, and it is actually the preferred way because of the overwhelming amount of options in digital tools that might get on your way, and you might end up deciding what is the best line/font/shape to use instead of thinking about the core ideas.
But you are free to choose some digital tools, but it is easier to create a sketch on paper.
By simply outlining the main elements and ideas you will be able to quickly show your suggestions on the structure of the future app to all stakeholders.
The details should be omitted, you will have time to focus on them later.
When all features and main elements are presented on paper and you continue developing them on a more profound level, the rough sketches turn into detailed sketches, and they now can be called wireframes.
If you are also planning to launch a new product or solution in the market, it is important to have a proper plan.
It is the best way to come up with creativity and helps developers to get new innovative ideas.
Different Types of Prototypes 1) Functional/ Proof of Concept It is the foremost step of the prototype development process.
This process clears at the very initial stage that your idea will work out and it focuses on the different aspects such as look, feel, and material.Undoubtedly, in this step, developers have to put in more effort and focus as it is the foremost step and even the reflection of the final product.
The presentation based prototype provides the precise look of the product, it focuses on the look and feel of the product.
This process helps to take the decision in the initial stage of the development process and also bring confidence about the product among investors, manufacturers, potential customers.
Prototyping in industrial design helps bridge the gap between the initial concept/design plan and the final design response. A prototype depicts the design concept and allows designers and experts to conduct hands-on research, providing opportunity for problem-solving adjustments and validation. The industrial prototype design service comes into play in this instance. Prototyping plays a critical role in shifting from the concept/design phases to the production/manufacturing phases. Choose the exemplary prototype design serviceYou will have to choose the right service provider offering the best prototype design for your ideas considering all these needs.
PCB Prototype UK - Quick Turn PCB Fabrication & Turn-key PCB Assembly Service On PCB COMPANY.
Your Only Source for High Quality And Complex PCBs From Dual to Multilayer.
Full PCB Manufacturing, Prototype Assembly, PCB Fabrication and More.