Wireframe

adminApril 29 2021

Wireframe

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A wireframe also acts as a tool that allows designers to visualize their ideas on a piece of paper or whiteboard, share them with other people, and get valuable feedback. The speed of creation is the major advantage of wireframing, and it makes this tool extremely valuable during brainstorming sessions. A wireframe is a skeletal mockup of an app or website, typically used for designing the barebones structure of the user interface, content, and functionality. Instead of visual elements such as colors and typography, wireframes are usually monochromatic, with a focus on usability - Visit to learn more about Wireframes.

As a UX/UI design newbie or expert, you must have heard about the term “wireframe” a lot. However, do you really exactly know what a wireframe is? Why should you create a wireframe? What wireframing tools do you need? Are there any good website wireframe examples and templates to boost your creativity in 2019?

This article will tell you everything about website wireframing. Enjoy reading.

Table of Contents

What is a wireframe?
Why do you need a wireframe?
What are the best free wireframing tools in 2019?
What are the best website wireframe examples & templates in 2019?
How to create a website wireframe?

What is a wireframe?

Basically, a wireframe is a simple presentation of a website which only shows a website at the structural level. However, simple doesn’t mean a wireframe is easy to create. Wireframing is a necessary step during the whole interactive design process, and it often takes place early in the project lifecycle. A wireframe is a graphical skeleton of a website, similar to an architectural blueprint.

Often, a wireframe has 3 core goals:

To show the content and functionality of the pages before any further designs.
To help designers communicate with clients about the design concept.
To establish the information hierarchy of the site.

Basically, a wireframe can be broken down into the following 3 main elements:

Information design - Contains the main information, outlining the structure and layout of the page.
Navigation design - To create the global and secondary navigation to improve the user experience.
Interface design - Providing visuals and a description of the user interface.

You can read more to know the basic differences between wireframe, prototype and mockup.

Why do you need a wireframe?

As a critical part of the design process, wireframes are of great importance in several aspects. Here are some advantages of wireframes.

1. A wireframe is much easier to understand than an abstract concept design

How hard is it to get stakeholders' approval using only an explanation of the concept design? With a wireframe, you can turn the abstract sitemap into a visual site. It is much easier and quicker to review and understand with a clean wireframe.

2. A wireframe can be used to receive feedback

Users, team members and stakeholders can review your design in early stages and give feedback to improve the user experience. It helps to make the design process iterative. It will cost more if the problem is found later on.

3. Wireframes help to define the website features

Wireframes ensure that page content and functionality are designed in a manner that meets user needs. Your design must be based on some business needs, if nobody ever wanted your design, all your work would be in vain.

4. Wireframing is fast to build and low cost

It’s cheap and fast to build a wireframe. The simplest way is to use pen and paper. With more wireframing tools available today, you can build a wireframe with a tool in minutes.

What are the best free wireframing tools in 2019?

In comparison to creating a wireframe with pen and paper, a handy wireframe tool helps build a web wireframe with super details more easily and quickly. That’s why you are recommended to choose a proper one for your web design.

If you are still looking for it yet, let’s take a look at the following list. Here are 9 of the best free wireframe tools in 2019 for you:

1. Axure – A professional wireframe tool

Axure, as one of the essential design tools for designers, is also a professional wireframing and prototyping tool. It offers users powerful features to create their desired web/app wireframe step by step.

Of course, as a professional wireframe tool, it may be not so easy for UI/UX design newbies to learn and master this design tool in a short time. It always takes some time for them to convert design ideas into web/app wireframes freely.

Wireframe For Website

2.Mockplus - A free and quick wireframing tool makes you design faster and easier

Mockplus is a fast and easy wireframing and prototyping tool. The biggest feature of Mockplus is the speed. With powerful component/icon/sample/project libraries, you can create an interactive prototype or wireframe from the very beginning within 10 minutes in Mockplus.

So if you are looking for a real quick tool, Mockplus is definitely your first choice. You will be surprised to find out how much time you can save by using Mockplus.

3.Adobe XD – A simple free wireframe tool

Adobe XD is another simple free wireframe tool that allows users to create desired web/app wireframes with ease. It offers users simple shapes and the related design tools to create a prototype or wireframe quickly. However, sometimes, since it is a little bit too simple, it may not be a good choice for you to create a wireframe with supper details.

4. Wireframe CC - The minimal online wireframing tool

Wireframe.cc is an online wireframe tool. It is a really simple tool, even the toolbar is skipped in the interface. You can wireframe with it as you wish, no limitations on the pre-set components, elements or any icons. If you are looking for a different drawing tool or want to start your design by creating every element yourself, then try Wireframe CC.

5. Balsamiq Mockups - A simple wireframe tool with a unique sketch style

Balsamiq Mockups is also a unique tool. It features a sketch style. As it says, 'intentionally rough and low fidelity.' If you want to have the experience of wireframing with pen and paper, then give it a try. However, note that Balsamiq doesn't support any interactions, so it not a tool for further design.

6. Pencil Project - Diagrams and GUI wireframing tool

Pencil Project is a free wireframe tool. It won the Mozilla award for 'Best New Add-On' in 2008 for its Firefox add-on. If you use a Firefox, you may try Pencil Project.

7. Fireworks - All-in-one wireframing tool

One of the biggest advantages of wireframing with Fireworks is that you can complete the whole design with this single one tool. From basic wireframes to the full visual, just use Fireworks.

8.Sketch – A free design tool to create web wireframes on Mac

Sketch is one of the most widely-used design tool for UI/UX designers to draw their web/app design drafts. Of course, it is also a good choice for users to create a wireframe/prototype with ease on Mac.

However, it may not be a proper choice for you to make an interactive wireframe/prototype.

9.Photoshop – A free design tool to create wireframe

Of course, for Windows PC users, without Sketch, you can still download and use Photoshop to create your desired web/app wireframe/prototype designs instead.

If this cannot help you out, there are 11 Best Website Wireframe Tools in 2019 for UI/UX Designers

What are the best website wireframe examples & templates in 2019?

After choosing a proper wireframe tool, are you still looking for good wireframe examples in 2019 for inspiration? Here are 20 of the best website wireframe examples & templates in 2019 for you:

1.Upshift Wireframe Example

This Upshift wireframe example shows the entire website wireframe page designs, including the Home page, price page, subscription page, etc. It will be an ideal example for you to create a good one-page website or wonderful parallaxing website.

2.Academic Website Wireframe Example

This clean and neat wireframe example uses very intuitive card designs to deliver its website information.

3.Low-Fidelity Wireframe Explore More Video Aggregator

This example looks very familiar, right? Yes. This web wireframe for the Explore more video aggregator gets some inspiration from the trendy market leaders, such as YouTube, Vimeo and DailyMotion.

Even so, it can be inspiring to you to create your own video or movie website.

4.Tedx Homepage Wireframe Example

This minimalist Homepage example is the initial wireframe concept design for Tedx website. It has a very good sidebar design.

Related article: 18 Practical Websites Homepage Design Tips and Excellent Examples

5.Apparel Designer Web Store Wireframe

This online store website wireframe template uses intuitive grids to display products and offers users two colors to customize their own clothing or fashion website.

Related article: 10 best inspirational fashion website design that surprise you

6.Mockplus Wireframe Sample Design Typepad

To facilitate users, Mockplus team also continuously shares website/app wireframe/prototype samples (made by Mockplus) on its sample blog.

This wireframe template is one of them and created based on the famous blogging platform – Typepad. It features a floating navigation bar on the top and is a brilliant example for you to create a flexible and attractive blogging website.

This project file can be download here.

7.Landing Page Wireframe for New Cryptocurrency Web

Type: Financial website

This landing page wireframe for New Cryptocurrency website is clean and classic. It features for rich layout designs, such as the linear company roadmap, intuitive sale maps and clear technology lost, etc.

It is a good example for you to create clean and classic website landing page with perfect layouts.

Related article: 20 Best Free HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap Landing Page Templates

8.Codemund Website Wireframe

This website wireframe for an online code learning platform uses a series of charts to display the web data, creating a very intuitive and appealing web design.

If you want to build a website with visualized data, this web wireframe is a good example for you.

9.Global Sources

Type: E-commerce

Global Sources is a typical E-commerce website wireframe example. It adopts Boxes and Shapes to create the page layout. The page contains a Search box, Log-in, Subscribe box, etc. The navigation bar is simple and clean. Also, it uses icons to make the interface more informative.

10. So Stereo

Type: Music

So Stereo is a clean music web wireframe example. It uses a big section of grey color to make the interface design more catching. With excellent typography, the information hierarchy of the page is very understandable. It contains example pages including, home, search, discover, faq, privacy policy, terms of service, etc.