are three fundamental resources for the design of digital products. Used in the stages that precede the development of the product, it is quite common to confuse them, thinking that they are just different names for the same function.
However, each one serves different moments in the design cycle , and is essential for UX/ UI designers and developers to create interfaces that are more accurate in relation to what users expect. Therefore, it is important to know their functionalities and make good use of them, in order to optimize processes and offer a good experience to users.
With all this in mind, we decided to write this article so that you can understand the differences between wireframe vs. mockup vs. prototype . You will understand the importance and details of each one, as well as learn about the best tools available to apply them. Keep reading!
The importance of wireframes, mockups and prototypes in product design
Wireframes, mockups and prototypes are part of the steps that benefits of using an employment database precede the development of a digital product, allowing UI/UX designers to perform tests at each stage of the process. They are essential means of attesting to the suitability of the product to the expectations of target users and ensuring that requirements for navigability, ease of use and fluidity, for example, have been met.
User testing is essential to continue the development of digital products and is carried out at different times, with the wireframe being one of the first and continuing until the prototype, which provides greater fidelity to what is expected of the product.
In short, we can say that the wireframe helps to visualize the first concepts of the product, like a kind of sketch.
The mockup , in turn, advances by adding more specific design options, such as color and font ideas. Thus, it is more faithful in representing the final product.
The prototype is closer to what is expected as the final product, by focusing on interaction design, making it possible to configure more solid navigation elements and experiment with how they behave.
To help you deepen your knowledge, in the following topics we will cover each of them in detail.
What is a wireframe?
A wireframe is a kind of “draft” of what a project’s design will be . Since it is a low-fidelity representation, its main focus is to provide a glimpse of the product idea — for example, a website or an app — and point out some essential elements that should appear in it.
In this sense, it is very important for developers to have an idea of the structure, layout, in short, the “architecture” of this digital product.
Wireframes are easier to create, and can be created by hand or digitally, and are usually colorless. They are used to reach a consensus on the overall functionality of the project.
When to use wireframes
Wireframes are used in the early stages of product design as a way to make abstract ideas about a product tangible.
It serves to provide general information about the product through quick and easily modifiable sketches, allowing the identification and decision on what the scope of the product will be.
What is a mockup?
The mockup is the practically “final” representation of the product , like a static simulation of its visual appearance. With it, it is already possible to visualize aspects such as the typography used, the iconography and the colors, that is, the style and the entire visual identity of the product interface.
This is an essential step to provide a more realistic idea of the project, both for developers and users. The mockup allows possible errors and inconsistencies that were not visible in the wireframe to be noticed and corrected.
Therefore, this phase helps in decision-making before they are incorporated into the product codes, which avoids rework.
When to use mockups
Mockups are used primarily to sell the idea of a product before the project even begins. They allow the idea to be presented to interested parties, aligning expectations of what the final product will be like, as well as allowing feedback from users regarding the visual identity to be collected.
It can happen before or after prototyping, as a final design step.
What is a prototype?
Unlike a mockup, a prototype focuses on interaction design. In other words, it is a model of an application or web page, for example, in which you can test the functionalities.
In other words, a prototype is still a sketch that is nevertheless navigable . Thus, the user interface created as a mockup is integrated into the prototype to carry out usability testing of the product.
Here, we have a simulation that is as realistic as possible of the final functioning of the product, making it possible to identify possible flaws in the user experience and receive their feedback.
When to use a prototype
A prototype is used to simulate user interaction. It is a functional version that can be used to test usability and identify potential flaws. It is crucial for validating ideas throughout the design development process and can involve the entire team in testing.
Navigation, for example, can be validated by UX Writers , while functionality is verified by Product Managers . Ultimately, it is an essential step to convince customers that it is a product worthy of development.
The main tools for wireframing, mockup and prototyping
Now that you know the differences between wireframe, mockup and prototype, let's give you some tips on some of the best tools used for each of these steps. Check it out:
Balsamiq
Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that has a very intuitive and straightforward interface .
Quite popular among UI designers who are just starting out, it allows the development of hassle-free layouts and structures in their projects, with simple drag and drop commands.
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based tool used to create wireframes , mockups, and prototypes. It is widely known in the market, especially for creating prototypes.
In addition, Figma offers a collaborative environment for teamwork, which allows multiple users to interact simultaneously. It is worth mentioning that individual use is free.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is Adobe's design software focused on creating complete prototypes for products, websites, and mobile apps . It also has vector-based features for prototypes and mockups, as well as workflow control tools, animated transitions, dynamic elements, etc.
With a very user-friendly interface, it allows integration with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
InVision Studio
InVision Studio is a full-featured animation and prototyping tool that offers features for creating advanced, vector-based designs.
It also allows collaboration between different teams, and is considered one of the most complete software for prototyping, with a unified digital product design environment.
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