What is a Website Wireframe?
As a website design and development business, we cannot stress enough the importance of developing a website wireframe. It is essentially the skeleton of your website. It may look very basic from a visual standpoint, but the purpose of the wireframe is to develop the layout of content on a page and to determine how elements of functionality can be integrated.
A website wireframe should almost look like a sketch, made up of outlines, basic icons, and placeholder elements. It is the core of your website, with a simple black and white layout that outlines the size and placement of page elements, site features, conversion areas and navigation for your website.
It does not have color, font styles, logos, or any real design element in place. It purely focuses on a website’s structure and makes the entirety of the website design and development process both smooth and simple.
If you are still not sure if wire-framing is right for you, here are five key reasons why you should consider wire-framing as a key element of any website design project.
Key Reasons Why Wire-framing is Important in Web Design
Developing a Layout and Structure
Any well-developed company will have a plan set in place regarding features and content when developing a website. Wireframes help the designer to determine which elements should be included on each page, and which functionality traits need to be set in place for each element.
A wireframe allows a designer and developer to connect with a client and work together in a cohesive manner with a goal in mind. There should be a solid page structure before the design is fully implemented.
Creating an Informational Hierarchy
Having a proper wireframe allows the client you are working with to forget about styles and colors so that they can focus on the essential elements such as the navigation and the content. Developers should ask the client what they want their user experience to be like when they visit the website and establish the information that needs to be provided to the user in order for them to find what they are looking for.
With a wireframe, designers and clients can see which page elements are more important than others, making it easier to see how the information on each page falls neatly into place.
Focusing on User Experience
Wireframes have the ability to provide basic structure and functionality. Each of these draws the attention to the elements that will have an impact on the user experience, rather than simply making the site look good. The usability, functionality and user experience are what will drive ROI.
When a designer is able to eliminate imagery, color, and other details, they are able to focus on the functionality of each element of a page, placing a strong focus on developing the best possible user experience.
Clarifying Features
When you develop a wireframe, it helps you decide which features are wanted on a website and which elements are needed. Early on in the development stage, the client and the web designer can work closely together to try out different applications and tools that will offer better usability to their website visitors.
Oftentimes, you will choose to remove a feature once it has been wire-framed, due to the simple fact that it doesn’t help reach the goal you had in mind regarding your website. Being able to see features without a focus on creativity is helpful when clarifying which elements have a huge impact.
Saving Time
A website wireframe will save time in the long-run. Although it will require more time initially, it will be worth it. Dedicating time to produce a full set of wireframes will save time throughout the lifecycle of the project.
If you are a designer that has a team behind them, you no longer have to spend time ensuring that each page has a flow and a purpose. You can simply do what you do best, which is making a wireframe look pretty by turning it into a full design.
