In the last couple of months, I often heard people talking about some wireframing tools. I had a sketchy idea of what a wireframe was (a wireframe it is a sketch of something), and I was wondering how there could be a tool for producing a wireframe? But then someone said something like: ‘This wireframe software is a good wireframing tool, I worked with it a couple of times.’ That was it. It had something to do with computers and planning UI design. So I looked it up in the internet.
A wireframing tool – An attempt at a definition
I would like to share with you what I found out. When internet experts want to create a new interface design, they do not just write a text on how it is going to look and then immediately program the developed UI design. They first design a sketch called a mockup or wireframe to be able to talk about their ideas with a visualized version of the idea. These sketches can be done with paper prototyping or with a wireframing tool. With this approach the whole team knows what each member wants to do with UI design. After all, showing is sometimes easier than explaining.
So is a wireframing tool simply a pen and paper computerized?
Wireframing tools are not the same as paper prototyping. Some web specialists use a wireframing tool not only because it sounds nice and professional but also because it offers more functionality than paper prototyping. With a wireframing tool it is possible to create a mockup which can be interactive, even before programming it. So it is possible to perform usability testing at an early stage of the development process. So, next time we hear somebody talking about a wireframing tool or wireframe software , just join the conversation!