What are Wireframes & Prototypes?
Wireframes and prototypes are the two design deliverables most often associated with UX design.
A lot of people in the field of digital design use the terms “wireframe” and “prototype” interchangeably, but there are significant differences between the two: they look different, they communicate different things, and they serve different purposes.
A wireframe will make use of placeholders and focus on the overall structure. Wireframes are tools to get approval prior to building a prototype. A prototype is something that will be similar to how the final product acts and behaves. A prototype will make use of the actual design.
Wireframes
The Foundation to Your New Site Design.
The first step to developing your new website is a wireframe. A wireframe is a simple, low-fidelity representation of the different screens and pages for your new site. Basically, a “skeleton”, used to show the structure of individual pages (how the pieces of the page work together and where the content will be) and how those pages. This allows you to visualize how your site’s content will work together to communicate your brand.
Prototypes
Interactive Validation for Your New Site.
Prototyping is the process of building an interactive experience. Unlike a wireframe, a prototype represents the final product, including simulations of the user interface interactions. A prototype can be a low-fidelity representation, with limited functionality, the purpose of which is to validate the design and functionality of your site prior to full site construction. And, in some cases, the next step may be a fully interactive, high-fidelity prototype that represents the final site design as closely as possible.
Our Development Process
The Wireframe & Development Process.
When it comes to UX design, The Design Foundry utilizes both Wireframes and Prototypes in your site design. Our wireframes communicate the content flow of your site, helping you make decisions during the design process to ensure your brand message fits your customers expectations. Once you’ve approved the final wireframe layout, we then build prototypes that incorporate your brand identity logos, typefaces, and relevant images – helping you to envision what your final site will look like, prior to site construction.
