A wireframing tool is used to design prototypes of websites and other IT products (like desktop or mobile applications). Yet most of the modern prototyping tools are not limited to only design wireframes of the end product specified. They often include more functions. The wireframing tool which is used in my agency is a web-based one. As our different offices are based internationally it was important to us to work collaboratively. So besides designing wireframes with an online wireframing tool you can also share your visualized ideas with colleagues all over the world. A good wireframing tool should also include that people you shared the wireframe with can test, comment on or edit it.
In our company it was a big relief that we no longer had to write in interminable email conversations what we mean when we wanted to change our sketches. Now we can work with the actual prototype and comment on it with the feedback feature in our prototyping tool. This made things much easier and clearer and most important: less stressful. So with a wireframing tool you can design and work on your prototypes in collaboration. Some of them also include the option to create an overview of the different wireframes created. Which screen leads to which screen? A screen flow helps to give other stakeholder the option to understand the whole product which is planned, even if they work on only one part of it. So please, dear colleagues, keep in mind that UI prototyping doesn’t only mean designing prototypes via drag and drop predefined UI elements on screen. But, working over your prototypes, test them, gain feedback, change and improve them. So when you have a moment, just discover the functionality of your wireframing tool. I am sure you’ll find a lot of features you didn’t know before.
