Wireframing is one of the many terms that may come up when designing a website, so it’s no surprise that it is also one of the main services provided by UX design agencies. There are many reasons why wireframing is important in web design. Read on to learn more about its benefits!
What is wireframing in web design?
Wireframing is essentially the “skeleton” or “blueprint” of your website. It is a black and white layout that focuses on the key functional elements of web design, while at the same time being devoid of any real “design” elements such as colors, fonts, logos. The goal here is to present the structure of your site pure and simple, in the most transparent way possible.
Think of it like building a house. What’s the point of putting all your energy into finding the perfect couch or deciding on the right color shade for your walls if the foundation isn’t set up right? In a nutshell, a foundational, functional structure takes priority. After the core elements are in place, then you can focus on coloring the website (or home) of your dreams!
Why wireframing is important in web design – what are the benefits?
The importance of wireframing in web design should not be underestimated. Here are some of the important reasons why it should not be skipped during website creation:
- Wireframing visually displays site architecture and information hierarchy in web design
Everyone is a bit of a visual person. A sitemap containing a seemingly endless list of URLs can look quite staggering at first, even for those working on your actual web design. Wireframing on the other hand helps to understand your sitemap by transparently displaying its structure. This allows you to see how all subpages fall into place and still make changes in the beginning phases of the development.
Think of it as a flow chart: this gives you a chance to see navigational menus and how your clients can explore your website from point A to point B.
- Wireframing helps you identify the most important elements and features in your web design
As previously mentioned, wireframing is mainly about getting your priorities right in web design. Before moving on to colors and other design elements, you can focus on what steps you want your users to take so that they may make easy purchases, fill out contact forms, download useful information about your products/services, and so on. This includes identifying CTA (Call To Action) buttons as well.
This also helps you determine other interactive features that may help your potential customers in making a decision, such as filters in webshops and chatting options with customer service.
- Wireframing helps save time during the web design process
If you think wireframing isn’t a vital step and only serves to extend the time needed to complete projects then you may want to think again. The point of wireframing is also to help you save time, and thus costs as well. Since the UX design agency working for you understands better what they are building, the whole web design process becomes a lot clearer: decisions are more calculated and require less back-and-forth contact, allowing the development team to complete the creation of your website within quicker time frames.
- Wireframing helps you focus on the user experience through transparent web design
UX design is all about improving user experience, and wireframing is the first step that helps you achieve exactly that. Ease of use and functionality are among the most important factors that will drive your ROI. By putting color aside and focusing on functionality, UX designers can work on identifying early on the key elements that will result in the best possible user experience for your target audience.