Best Practices Of Wireframing Software

By Author: Martin Metz
Total Articles: 13
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Making wireframes valuable for you and your team

We all want to use the best tools available to us in our design projects, but sometimes we need to take a step back and focus on how we use these tools for our design projects. Wireframing software is something that can be beneficial for sharing projects, getting validation early on in a project, and for getting feedback from stakeholders early. The problem arises, however when using wireframing software becomes a routine part of the process. Creating wireframes is part of a checklist, rather than a tool in itself to creating a better end product. Going back to basics is often necessary, especially when working with others. The most important thing is to inform others of what the purpose of wireframes is and how you can use wireframing software to achieve the outcome that is needed.

Wireframing Software: The Basics

We all know the analogy of wireframes acting as a blueprint for building a house. This is something you should use where possible to explain to clients and other stakeholders that wireframes are part of a phase at the beginning of a project. However, ...
... just like when designing a house, architects will have researched other parts of the project. What is the building going to be used for? Are there fixed requirements for the number of rooms? What type of land will the house be built on? Just as an architect would have to know the answers to these questions to come up with functional blueprints, you too should know what the purpose of a website should be, what the user-base is, if there are any requirements from other departments. With this information, you can then then begin to make your plans and check that nothing important has been missed.

Building on the Basics with Wireframing Software

The architect can build a functional home within budget if he ensures that the most important requirements are met, but to build something outstanding, he must go further. Making a dream home for a family is far more about functionality than outward appearance. For this reason when using wireframing software, forget about the graphic design as much as possible. Focus instead on the interactions and the information architecture. Go out and research the needs of your end users. Don’t be afraid to go out and show them the mockups you have made with your wireframing software. By being active in your research, you will be able to use your wireframing software in a productive way.

Working with Others

Collaboration is not always easy and while you may be certain that you have left no stone unturned, there will always be a member on your team who will disagree with you on one point or other. If there is a real business case or valid user requirement that lies behind their complaint, try to incorporate this into your wireframe if possible. I often use wireframing software in meeting, so that I can change my wireframes quickly. This also helps when working with others, as they often feel like their input is being taken seriously. If there are ever times when you feel a team member or stakeholder’s criticism is not valid, take the time to explain to them the processes you have already undertaken. It could be that they are not fully aware of the different use cases you have researched. Equally, you must sometimes accept that there are experts in other fields, who will point out changes that need to be made when you aren’t sure of the background. You should also embrace this input.

The Next Step

When I am finished making my wireframes, these are often still very basic from a graphic design perspective. Sometimes I upload images and use color or experiment with font, but only if I think it is integral to the user experience. I also include as much interaction as I think is necessary at this stage. Just enough for my stakeholders to be able to experience the most important parts of the user experience, whilst still understanding that this is a prototype. By using wireframing software that has a range of collaboration features, I can allow developers and graphic designers to edit my prototypes. I can also use my wireframing software to simulate prototypes on a desktop or mobile device, which means I can get feedback from others directly when I am in a meeting.

Conclusion

With all the options and features available to us in the realm of wireframing software, this is a very powerful tool in our user research and collaboration with team members. With wireframing software, we can visualize our ideas easily and demonstrate how interactions should occur. Wireframing software can only be used to its full potential, however when we communicate clearly with our teams, use wireframes as blueprints and ensure that we have thoroughly researched the user’s requirements.

About the Author

Pidoco.com – Interface Design, Wireframe Software, Interface Design Software, Clickable Wireframe and GUI Prototyping Tool. A GUI Design Interface Software for clickable Wireframes! Wireframe creating and GUI prototyping tool. Fast wireframe creation and remote website usability testing lead to an improved conversion! read More: https://pidoco.com/en