Introduction to wireframes

Wireframes Communication & Multimedia Design Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences Joel Laumans CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 1

Today’s agenda What are wireframes? Why use them? Examples CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 2

A lot is happening At times the design process can seem very complicated, a lot of things are happening at the same time. Many people from different disciplines are all working together (and often simultaneously) on the same project. Everyone has their own role, and to make a truly good product, the communication between the different parties involved has to be good. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 3

CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 4

Jesse James Garret | The Elements of User Experience CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 5

Interaction design? The task of an interaction designer will be to primarily focus on the structure and skeleton of an interface. There are many tools that can be used in this part of the design process, one of the most important being wireframes. Jesse James Garret | The Elements of User Experience CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 6

Wireframes are: A visual representation of an interface; used to communicate the structure, content, information hierarchy, functionality, and behavior of an interface. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 7

Wireframes are: A visual representation of an interface; used to communicate the structure, content, information hierarchy, functionality, and behavior of an interface. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 8

Why use wireframes? Before making the visual design, you first make decisions about the structure, content, layout, etc. Wireframes are a tool to communicate these ideas. “Blueprint for design” Get everyone on the same page Prototype for usability tests Easier to change a wireframe, than a design! CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 9

Before the design... you need wireframes CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 10

Structure How will the pieces of this site be put together? Content What will be displayed on this site? Information Hierarchy How is this information organized and displayed? Functionality How will this interface work? Behavior How does it interact with the user? How does it behave? CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 11

Types of wireframes CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 12

Types of wireframes Sketches Quick / experiment Good for feedback CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 13

Types of wireframes Sketches Quick / experiment Good for feedback Lo-fidelity Block diagrams Good for testing flows CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 14

Types of wireframes Sketches Quick / experiment Good for feedback Lo-fi / Content only Block diagrams Good for testing flows Hi-fidelity Detailed wireframes Including comments Describe content & behavior “Blueprint for final design” Should be understood without explanation CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 15

Wireframes do not: represent the visual design contact graphic elements convey the brand or identity CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 16

This is a bad wireframe! Forget visual design Avoid using color / gradients Adding unnecessary elements makes the wireframe less powerful, remember: Wireframes focus only on the content and interaction of the interface! CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 17

Looks good, right? CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 18

Yes, but: Don’t use “Lorem ipsum!” Be realistic as possible, think about the content that will really be in the interface. Many clients don’t know what “lorem ipsum” is. Try and add content that will best represent content that will be placed in the final interface. Fake text can be very distracting. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 19

Example 1: This is an example of a hi-fidelity wireframe for an NOS.nl concept. On the left site of the page is the wireframe. The blue circles are numbered to refer to the comments on the right half of the page. Note: The comments can also be placed below the wireframe, it is up to you. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 20

Example 2: Instead of using dots to refer to the comments, another option is to use arrows to link the interface elements to the comments. CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 21

How to start? Start big! Start with the largest parts of the interface, the frame, header, footer, etc. Then work you way through the smaller elements of the interface. The following slides will show a quick wireframe build-up. Final tip! Remember, your wireframe will be used by lots of different people for different purposes: Designers Developers Project leaders Usability testers Clients So be as clear as you can! CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 22

Questions? CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 31

Further Reading... Recommended tools Wireframes Crossplatform http://userpathways.com/2008/06/26/the-what-when-and- Adobe InDesign why-of-wireframes/ How to wireframe using InDesign (PDF) Wireframes - The how and the why http://vakgroep.cmd.hro.nl/iad/wp-content/uploads/ http://vakgroep.cmd.hro.nl/iad/wp-content/uploads/ 2008/12/wireframing_using_indesign.zip 2008/12/wireframes_thehowandthewhy_v10.pdf Mac OSX Designing for Interaction by Dan Saffer Omnigraffle pgs 109 - 113 Windows About Face 3.0 by Alan Cooper Microsoft Visio chapter 7 Other possibilities Adobe Fireworks Axure Whichever tool you choose, look online for some tutorials or resources to help you out! CMD Rotterdam | Interaction Design - Wireframes 32

Introduction to wireframes

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