What are digital wireframes?
We have learned that the wireframes act as a blueprint for any product. They are the stepping stones to the entire process, so it becomes essential to convert your paper wireframes to digital.
Digital wireframes are medium/high fidelity, created using digital tools to present a more realistic view to the real version. It can either be created gray-scale or blue-in color depending upon the need of the project.
It provides you with him holistic picture, from the placement of elements on the screen to how the actual screens connect to each other.
Designers can make better use of it by testing varied ideas, improvements in the potential areas.
Digital wireframes can be created as a-A high fidelity digital wireframe, also known as mockups, includes aesthetic touches and shadows.
Low/medium fidelity digital wireframe will have a Clearer View of the UI elements structure but aren’t styled. They are often gray-scale.
How it is different from a paper wireframe?
Paper wireframes are effective at the initial stages when you are just trying to figure out the structure for the product. whereas Digital wireframes act as a bridge between the initial and the final phases. It adds refinement to more details and lets you identify the functionality of the design.
Paper wireframes make use of a good old pen and paper. So they are easy and quick to adjust to any changes whereas Digital wireframes use digital tools like Sketch, Balsamiq, etc. which require time, money, and good technical skills. In case the client disapproves of the wireframe, you have to start from scratch.
Paper wireframes aren’t very appealing but are a good source of drinking everybody’s thoughts on the table together. It is the first draft of your design whereas Digital wireframes help clients who might have a hard time visualizing what a product will look like based on a paper on wireframes. With proper spacing, everything can be applied and testing.
Importance of digital wireframe
Focuses on usability. It takes out the images and color and focuses on the bones so that it forces everyone to look objectively at a website’s each of use, conversion paths, naming of links navigation placement, and feature placement.
Digital wireframes can easily be shared converted to interactive prototypes, by uploading it to looks incision and then adding hotspots for interactivity (clickable prototypes.)
Digital wireframing makes the design process iterative. Rather than combining content/layout/functionality, it ensures these elements are taken one at a time.
Be it high or low-fidelity digital wireframes; it helps lay down the hierarchy for the product. They can be a little time-consuming than paper wireframes, but they can easily be converted to a prototype by adding interactions.