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Updated December 20, 2025
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Wireframe
A wireframe is a low-fidelity representation of a digital product's layout and user interface (UI). It serves as a foundational step in the design process, allowing designers to visualize and refine their ideas before moving on to more detailed designs.
Introduction
A wireframe is a crucial aspect of the design process, providing a clear understanding of how a digital product will function and interact with its users. It is an iterative process that evolves as the design team refines their ideas, ensuring that the final product meets the desired goals and user needs.
Benefits of Wireframes
Clear communication: Wireframes facilitate clear understanding among team members, stakeholders, and clients, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Time-efficient: Creating wireframes early in the design process saves time and resources by identifying potential issues before they become costly problems.
Cost-effective: By reducing the need for extensive redesigns, wireframes help minimize the financial impact of design errors or changes.
History/Background
Early Developments
Digital Wireframing Tools
Mural
Figma
Sketch
Adobe XD
Wireframe CC
Key Concepts
Layout
User Flow
Interaction Design
Technical Details
Design Principles
Simplicity: Keep wireframes simple and easy to understand.
Consistency: Ensure consistency in layout, typography, and color schemes throughout the wireframe.
Clear hierarchy: Establish a clear visual hierarchy to guide users through the digital product.
Data-Driven Design
Accessibility Guidelines
WCAG 2.1: Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 for creating accessible wireframes.
Color Contrast Ratio: Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background elements.
Digital Wireframing Standards
The Nielsen Norman Group's (NN/g) wireframing guidelines
The Mobile First design principle
The Material Design System
Applications/Uses
Web Development
Mobile App Design
Game Development
Case Studies
A mobile app for food delivery, where wireframes helped designers create an intuitive user interface.
A website redesign for an e-commerce platform, where wireframes ensured a clear and consistent design language.
The following sources were referenced in the creation of this article. Citations are formatted according to MLA (Modern Language Association) style.
1.
"The Wireframe Design Principle by the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g)." nngroup.com, https://www.nngroup.com/articles/the-wireframe-design-principle/. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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