Wireframes

The most common form of Wireframes (AKA: Low Fidelity Prototypes) is a Paper Prototype or rough digital mockup that sketches the user interface of the system. For example, these sketches may show drawn buttons and workflows between multiple screens. This type of Prototyping is usually not interactive or clickable. The user testing the Wireframe is asked to think out loud and explain what they expect each time they click a button, though this depends on their imagination. Wireframes ensure consistency in the interaction flow and serve to gain initial insights into user expectations.

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Wireframes do not require much development time and effort in testing. This makes them particularly efficient for the early phases of Digital Experience Design and User Research. They help in identifying key required functions, the approximate course of an interaction flow and possible problems in the design. This is easily modified and recreated with Wireframes as opposed to detailed High-Fidelity Prototypes.

Wireframes in the form of a Paper Prototype or digital sketches can be tested with users both remotely and face-to-face. Gathered feedback is used to improve the designs before moving to prototypes of a higher fidelity.